In the lead-up to the official start of summer, the Canary Islands are seeing a significant surge in the use of motorhomes as primary residences. The issue of soaring rental prices, particularly in south Tenerife, has resulted in a crisis exacerbated by the reduced purchasing power of residents, leaving many in a difficult situation. Municipalities such as Arico, Granadilla de Abona, and Arona are grappling with the challenges posed by motorhomes and campers, while they await a uniform regulation from the Cabildo to address and ideally eliminate the negative impacts.
Challenges such as lack of parking, wastewater management, and waste disposal are on the rise. President of the Association of Motorhomes and Campers, Juan Martín, is calling for governmental intervention to curb illegal activities, including the unlawful rental of these vehicles as tourist accommodations and, disturbingly, for illicit activities like prostitution. Arico took the lead in the south by initiating a municipal ordinance and seeking the Cabildo’s involvement. Other municipalities have followed suit by developing their own regulations.
This trend is particularly notable in tourist hotspots like Arona, where a significant number of tourism industry workers have opted to live permanently in motorhomes. In other areas such as Arico and Granadilla, there is a surge in motorhomes along the coast during specific periods like Easter and summer. Mayor of Arico, Olivia Delgado, mentions that sometimes they make preparations for the influx of such vehicles and coordinate special operations to manage the situation.
ARONA
The Aronero City Council has been addressing the growing concerns of its residents regarding this issue in the municipality and is now working on a motorhome census to establish new regulations, as confirmed by Mayor Fátima Lemes to Cope Canary Islands.
The president of the Motorhome and Camper Association highlighted that the overcrowding problem in southern municipalities is also fuelled by the availability of these motorhomes for holiday rentals on various platforms. Martín stresses that there have been reports of motorhomes being used for illicit activities like prostitution. While official sources have not confirmed any cases, some residents believe this issue may be starting to escalate.
FERTILIZER GRANADILLA
Granadilla is one of the municipalities most affected by the proliferation of motorhomes. Mayor Jennifer Miranda recently stated that they are taking immediate action on this matter. The primary goal is to address the situation near El Médano, facing the Red Mountain and leading to the Hermano Pedro cave. This area sees around 20 motorhomes daily, despite not being designated for such use. Citizen Assistance Councillor, David Santos, affirmed yesterday that since the land is privately owned, parking there is prohibited. He explained, “The council is acting swiftly using all available resources. The situation is unique as the owner cannot fence off the area due to its classification as protected rural land.”
ARICO
In response to this issue, the Arico City Council became the first southern municipality to request an ordinance from the Cabildo last April. Mayor Olivia Delgado remarked that this matter “goes beyond the local level.” With regulations already drafted and pending a legal review, the council of Arico is close to presenting its new guidelines.
“This issue extends beyond the municipal scope; a regional ordinance is necessary to bring order. That’s why we urged the Council to draft the regional regulation and oversee the recovery of specific areas for motorhome use. It was finally approved,” she emphasized.
Arico took the initiative in addressing this widespread issue affecting the South and the rest of the Island. The councillor anticipates the final regional ordinance and the establishment of “a collaborative communication and work channel with the other impacted municipalities.” She confirmed, “Such measures should be agreed upon collectively by all affected parties.”
In the case of Arico, the most impacted areas include Abades, Tajao, and La Punta, all along the coast. Olivia Delgado notes that “her municipality differs from others as they have fewer resources.” The absence of necessary services for wastewater and waste disposal has led to overwhelming conditions in these highly affected locales, she elucidated.
