SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 20 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The chairman of Ashotel, Jorge Marichal, has rebutted criticism towards holidaymakers and tourism for the transgressions committed in protected areas of the Canary Islands. “This sort of information only fuels fear among holidaymakers and aversion among companies in the tourism industry that work hard every day,” he expressed.
In a column, Jorge Marichal reiterated that our guests, in general terms, “show respect for the environment and those who do not should face penalties. Behaviour is penalized, not nationality.” In this context, he has advocated for increased monitoring, further training of professionals in safeguarding our spaces; promoting environmental respect education; penalizing those who disregard the regulations, regardless of whether they are British, German or from any municipality in the Canary Islands.
The Ashotel chairman lamented that in the midst of all the societal debate concerning the economic and touristic model of the Canary Islands, which sparked discontent on April 20, some public officials “have chosen to target holidaymakers and tourism.” “I am taken aback and disheartened to witness how we are acting against our own interests, instead of identifying areas of weakness to bolster them,” he added.
Jorge Marichal highlighted that Tenerife “is facing obsolescence and congestion in many of its infrastructures; it grapples with a significant housing shortage; its primary transport networks are overwhelmed; it allows 40% of water flow to go to waste due to outdated infrastructures; it has an inadequate public transportation system”, hence, “it is not the fault of the holidaymakers.”
Marichal assured that the hotel industry sector is not immune to the “discontent prevalent in the Canary Islands” and reiterated that “we are not turning a deaf ear” to the “criticisms” of tourism detractors. “Let us act responsibly, rectify the shortcomings, but let’s not blame the entirety of our society’s ills on the holidaymaker, or on tourism, wherein more than 40% of the Canary Islands’ population earns their livelihood,” he remarked.
He detailed that Ashotel has initiated “a dialogue process, a multidisciplinary forum wherein stakeholders from diverse sectors can openly discuss the challenges and opportunities of tourism activity in the Canary Islands to promote practical measures for the society’s and industry’s benefit.”
The head of the employers’ association emphasised that “we will not resolve anything by adding fuel to the fire, whereby instead of dialogue and analysis, those who toil all year round to unwind during a well-deserved vacation are berated and vilified.”
“Aren’t we also holidaymakers both within and outside the Canary Islands when we are on vacation? Would we appreciate being scolded and singled out by the locals of the places we visit? Let’s refrain from doing unto others what we dislike being done unto us. It’s simple to comprehend and implement,” he concluded.
