Graduated in Law and with an MBA, linked to the Círculo since its creation, in 1999, he was coordinator of the managing board and of the board of directors for 13 years and general secretary since 2015. He announces that he will maintain the vindictive character of the organization and will strengthen the relationship with partners.
What are the general objectives of your Presidency?
They revolve around two lines. The first is internal, towards our associates, because we want to strengthen and encourage commercial relations between them to strengthen ourselves and be more competitive. We want to contribute to the Círculo being a generator of business and economy. The second line is towards the outside, continuing with our demands. We will continue to bet on a public administration that offers security and confidence to attract investment. We are committed to growth that does not generate inequality, that contributes to overcoming them. We will not stop denouncing the state of the road network, because they are generating a collapse in mobility. We will continue demanding the investments that the region needs and deserves as a driver of the economy in the province.
Is it time to apply the tourist ecotax?
The increase in tourist activity, our main industry, has directly generated an exponential increase in tax collection from taxes such as the IGIC or the Company Tax. It has reached record collection figures, generated for the most part, if not entirely, by the increase in tourist activity. This money is the one that finances all of our health, educational, social services, etc. On the other hand, our administration has a level of budget execution that does not reach 90%, that is, it does not spend the money it has and, furthermore, it turns out that the execution of European funds does not reach satisfactory levels either. Given the situation, why does the administration want to raise more money? We understand that at this moment the tax that our tourists want to be charged is better in their pockets so that they can spend it in our shops, restaurants, hire excursions and generate direct economy in businessmen who already pay enough taxes.
Is it justified to implement a new tourism model?
What is a new model? What does that phrase imply? Isn’t our model under permanent revision, adapting to the new tastes of the market? On this, those who should comment are professionals and tour operators, who have knowledge of the sector. We talk about intervening on an activity that is the one we live in Canary Islands. I insist. Our model is constantly evolving and proof of this are the new products that are put on the market, when our restrictive regulations allow it. The requalification of our companies, of old facilities and buildings with their upgrading, modernization and facilities committed to the environment is another proof of the evolution of our model.
Is the workforce poorly trained?
The reality is that we suffer from what some experts call a “talent mismatch,” which is the mismatch between the skills required to fill a job employment and the training or aptitudes of the candidate. The solution is public-private collaboration in training.
Let’s talk about infrastructure. The airport Tenerife South…
It is in the top positions in profitability in Spain, but at the bottom in innovation, comfort and services. This profitability is due, fundamentally, to the investment effort of private and public initiatives, which have made Tenerife a world tourist power and attracted extremely profitable tourism. AENA must be committed to Tenerife South, it owes it to the Island. The needs are clear: modernity, provision of services, space and the comforts that we Canaries and those who visit us need. It is frustrating that, after providing our clients with wonderful holidays in modern hotels and accommodation, with leisure and professional services, they end up waiting in a terminal that we do not deserve, with families and children sitting on the floor due to lack of space, people crowded together , chairs sparse and extremely uncomfortable. We need an airport that adapts to our tourism industry and its peculiarities. To this we must add the aesthetic issue. The current terminal is the result of successive extensions, like globs. The carriers and tour guides waiting outside the terminal spend long hours in the sun, the wind, the cold of winter, they are the face that receives them in Tenerife. These workers need their conditions to improve.
The Port of Los Cristianos, another problem?
It is a vital infrastructure to regenerate and requalify Los Cristianos, which suffers from the problems of a mature destination and urgently needs actions to return it to the path of excellence. It is necessary to develop its full potential by generating a new nautical sports offer, there must be a real collaboration between public and private initiative that allows large-scale investments to be made and thus expand the port’s capacity to generate economy. This requalification goes through a review of the road network and mobility in its environment. Urgently includes access to the port. In our document 8 steps towards the future of the South, we stated it clearly: this facility must expand its fishing and sports uses and make it possible for cruise ships to dock. We should not be afraid to open the debate about moving the base port of the ferries and the convenience for Los Cristianos, taking into account the operators. The expansion of the nautical offer would generate many direct and indirect jobs, such as ship repair, mechanics, welders, electricians, refrigerators and many others. At the same time, it would attract tourists with greater spending power. We must highlight the life that a port generates for locals and businesses in the area, where it is possible to organize events, markets, exhibitions or outdoor sports classes. All this attracts tourists and neighbors.
It seems that the Port of Fonsalía is history.
Unfortunately, it is an infrastructure that has been self-interestedly put into a mire from which it will be difficult to get out. We continue to defend the generation of new ports that serve the stated purpose and, of course, avoid discussing a project for 25 years, because it erodes the credibility of the management capacity of our public administration and has our society in permanent tension. The CEST has always defended the port of Fonsalía as the natural and most efficient connection with the Western Islands, as it significantly shortens the journey. It would contribute to expanding the nautical offer and would enable the generation of economy.
The third lane from San Isidro seems bogged down.
Now we have a new government and we hope that how much or how little, we no longer know, that progress has been made in terms of studies and projects will not suffer a stoppage or setback due to the arrival of the new team. The expansion of the highway in this section is not in question. The current situation is unsustainable and we cannot continue wasting time in office discussions.
The solution to the Guaza-Los Cristianos section is still pending.
It is one of the bottlenecks of the TF-1 and requires immediate surgical intervention. We have made proposals to advance this action and put an end to the problems it generates on a daily basis, but the indecision and the extreme complexity of our administration, a real drag on the development of Tenerife, have prevented us from even taking them into account.
And the access to Los Cristianos?
Urgent action is needed to create dignified access to the main tourist area, which is currently a poorly marked suburb, without lighting and collapsed. We must study the possibility of generating more than one access to Los Cristianos, because, when El Mojón is developed, it will become a large tourist city and every large city has several accesses. Why not promote access via the Guaza–Los Cristianos road?
The beginning of his presidency coincides with the beginning of a term. What do you expect and/or demand from the new administrations?
That they stand next to the company, working side by side, generating the framework of legal certainty and administrative efficiency necessary for it to do its job, which is to generate wealth and prosperity for our region and our people.
