Local councils advocate for the “distinctive features” and reject the notion of a moratorium, seeking to regulate holiday rentals in a broad manner
SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 18th October (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Government of the Canary Islands unveiled on Friday, alongside local councils and city administrations, the initial 51 measures intended to shape its future, resulting from five working groups comprising over a hundred specialists from public universities, trade unions, business associations, and various sectors of public administration.
The document, currently available for public engagement during the consultation period until 15th November, will be ratified four days later during the second ‘Conference of Presidents’ and will align with the results of the demographics study commission of the Canary Islands Parliament.
Vice-Minister for the Presidency, Alfonso Cabello, elaborated before reporters, alongside Fecai president, Sergio Rodríguez, and Fecam president, Mari Brito, describing it as a “new collaborative approach” with a “cross-cutting and highly ambitious strategy” aimed at addressing the present “disparity” between the tourist islands and the ‘green islands’.
The key aspects of the document comprise revisiting legal regulations to hasten the development and construction of housing, establishing a Demographic Observatory to plan for the islands’ future and avoid a population increase of half a million residents over two decades, as well as promoting the conservation of the natural environment.
Cabello emphasised the necessity to “modulate” policies and ensure their “implementation” in the forthcoming regional budget, particularly underscoring initiatives to stimulate housing construction.
Key proposals include creating a land register, reassessing RIC modules to encourage protected housing through private developers, and establishing a ‘Virtual Demographic Challenge Office’ to assist councils and municipalities in accelerating the approval of planning permits.
In terms of housing, experts recommend expanding regional tax deductions on personal income tax, providing incentives for homeowners who rent out vacant properties, easing sales conditions, or establishing a public guarantee fund to secure landlord payments.
TOURISM REGULATIONS ARE OBSOLETE
He further stated that the legal framework for tourism should be reviewed as it is “outdated” and highlighted the need for society to recognise its “potential” in generating employment and wealth.
In this context, he noted that tourism should also be associated with environmental protection, which opens the possibility of adopting changes akin to those implemented on Lanzarote, such as charging for access to certain areas, while also fostering wealth in rural zones.
Cabello indicated that development plans would be created for smaller municipalities, alongside sustainable mobility and public transport schemes, while highlighting that studies would be conducted to determine the carrying capacity of the most heavily trafficked areas.
Regarding a potential tourist moratorium or the regulation of holiday rentals—issues raised by social groups planning to protest on Sunday—he asserted that the archipelagic reality “requires diverse approaches”, thus leaving no room for “unilateral” measures not mutually agreed upon by all stakeholders.
He remarked that tourism should not be “blamed” for all the challenges facing the Canary Islands and connected Sunday’s protests to the public’s “weariness” regarding certain issues, including housing accessibility, territorial pressures, and a surplus of tourists.
“95% of the population of the Canary Islands inhabits four islands, and 97% of tourist resources are concentrated in those same areas, and we must adopt measures that acknowledge this dual situation in the Canary Islands; thus, it cannot be a one-size-fits-all solution,” he noted.
Mari Brito praised the establishment of the working groups and the contributions from local councils, yet she insisted that their recommendations must be “heard” and “included in the bulletin” for effective co-governance to materialise.
Consequently, she has called for “power and financial accountability” and for the “distinctiveness” of the territories to be acknowledged, displaying some scepticism towards the total “implementation” of all facets of the document.
As an example, she cited the ongoing legislation concerning holiday rentals, expressing concerns that “an effort is being made to delegate powers” to the local councils or that “it seems unnecessary” since regulations have existed since 2015.
MARI BRITO: THE VACATION RENTAL LAW COULD BE “DISASTROUS”
“With all due respect, I believe we must voice our concerns, for if this moves forward, the proposed draft for the vacation rental law at present could spell disaster for the local councils in terms of competencies,” she emphasised.
Sergio Rodríguez underscored the necessity of approaching the islands’ planning collectively with all administrations, as while there are “common challenges” such as climate change and water accessibility, there are also specific issues, for instance, that ‘green islands’ seek tourism growth, whilst others do not.
“Hopefully, we may encounter dilemmas like those faced by other islands to facilitate varied decisions, but currently, what stands before us is the potential for growth and opportunities for our youth,” he remarked.
In that regard, he articulated his disinterest in hearing about moratoriums concerning La Palma, an island that “requires accommodation” after losing 5,000 beds due to a volcanic eruption. “We cannot approach this as a collective issue for the Canary Islands since it is not,” he asserted.
