SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 8 December (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Cabildo, through Tenerife Tourism, is progressing with its Circular Economy Island Plan aimed at enhancing the competitiveness and sustainability of businesses affiliated with the tourism industry.
The initiative, which has recently completed its initial phase (comprised of five stages), seeks to establish a roadmap for the subsequent three years based on a preliminary assessment of the circular economy within the island’s tourism sector and its application by local stakeholders, while adhering to the current regulations of the Canary Islands Circular Economy Strategy.
The developments of this diagnostic phase were presented last Wednesday among the Tourism and Natural Environment departments of the Cabildo.
This plan also comprises a training strategy which includes guidance for businesses and both online and in-person workshops on the circular economy.
This initiative is part of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan – Funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU, and is incorporated into the ‘Tenerife Reset’ project under the Tourism Sustainability Plans Programme approved by the Tourism Sector Commission, which encompasses various initiatives aimed at boosting the competitiveness of tourism firms in Tenerife, focusing on emerging segments and sector training.
Consequently, it is being executed by Global Factor International Consulting, an international organisation specialised in providing comprehensive, innovative and sustainable solutions in areas such as climate change, energy, and sustainability.
In partnership with Ecotouristing, a Tenerife-based firm with considerable expertise in the conception, planning, and management of projects adhering to principles of environmental, sociocultural, and economic regeneration and sustainability, marked by a clear commitment to social responsibility.
The vice president and Tourism advisor of the Cabildo, Lope Afonso, confirmed in a statement that “this is a journey in which, besides involving companies and professionals, the backing of citizens is essential to reinforce Tenerife’s identity and commitment as a leader in sustainability”.
Therefore, he continued, “among the aims of this strategy, the coordination of a social awareness campaign is particularly noteworthy.”
Afonso also emphasises that efforts are underway to establish a responsible destination management model, “approaching the economy from a practical perspective focused on sustainability applicable to the entirety of the tourism value chain.”
According to the CEO of Tenerife Tourism, Dimple Melwani, “this plan and its various phases are designed to ensure that each action leads to clear and tangible advancements in making Tenerife’s tourism sector more sustainable, both environmentally and socially”.
He believes that numerous companies on the island are already implementing effective practices regarding the circular economy, yet it is crucial to “take another step,” and this project, part of the Tourism Sustainability Plan (Next Generation Funds), offers a “fantastic opportunity” for collaboration between the public and private sectors to outline the roadmap for the transformation of the island’s tourism sector towards circularity, focusing on key areas identified in the assessment, such as waste, water, energy, infrastructure and equipment, as well as the primary sector and local products.
SECTOR PARTICIPATION
As part of this initial analysis phase, the first meeting took place last Tuesday with over 30 companies and tourism agents at the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Fairgrounds.
Participants included businesses engaged in nature activities, agricultural production and industry, hospitality, restaurants, transport, companies affiliated with the Tenerife Tourism Sustainability Charters (Whale Watching and Nature Activities), along with public administrations and the tourism industry as a whole.
During this working session, the results obtained from over 50 surveys conducted in the initial months of work were explored in depth.
This analysis revealed that over 78% of the surveyed companies are familiar with the concept of circular economy and more than 90% are aware of sustainability.
Additionally, half of the participants opine that implementing this strategy would provide a significant advantage for both the sector and the destination, underscoring the strong consensus on the fact that the future direction of tourism in Tenerife should be aligned with sustainability and the critical need to be interconnected with nature, including its protection and conservation.
For the successful implementation and development of this Circular Economy Promotion Plan, spearheaded by Tenerife Tourism, there will be close collaboration and support from the Natural Environment, Sustainability, Security, and Emergencies area of the Cabildo de Tenerife, with whom an initial meeting has already occurred, as well as with the area of Ecological Transition and Climate Change Mitigation of the Canary Islands Government, with whom we will convene soon.
