Rosa Dávila, the head of the Cabildo in Tenerife, disclosed on Monday her intention to propose at the Conference of Council Presidents on Tuesday in Parliament the necessity of studies on capacity limits or the enforcement of actions to address the issue of vacant properties in the market.
During a press briefing to announce the decisions taken in the Government Council meeting, she stated that this summit will mark “a turning point” in the examination of the “demographic challenge” in the archipelago as it occurs at a “crucial moment” where the populace does not feel that the prosperity generated in the Canary Islands contributes to enhancing their living standards.
Regarding Tenerife specifically, she highlighted that the island has a negative natural growth rate, but it is the one experiencing the most demographic growth due to the influx of foreign residents.
Hence, she emphasised the necessity for policies addressing the populace, as growth is “uneven” across the islands, even within a single island. She supported the initiative by the Cabildo to introduce charges from January for tourist visits to natural areas, alongside studies to determine the maximum capacity of these locations.
She also stated that all fiscal and territorial planning tools need to be reviewed to safeguard natural sites and foster cooperation between different governmental bodies.
Dávila confirmed that the Cabildo in Tenerife is well-prepared for the council of presidents with the fees for accessing natural areas but stressed the necessity to go “beyond” and ensure a satisfactory level of service delivery.
“Growth does not equate to development,” she clarified, and announced collaboration with the University of La Laguna to address the “complex challenge” of the Canary Islands being part of the EU, where there is free movement of people, while also being a geographically constrained region.
She noted that this discussion cannot be approached in a “short-term” manner as it will span multiple terms.
In relation to housing, an estimated 90,000 properties are vacant on the island, and if at least 10,000 could be made available, it would have a significant impact, allowing young individuals and vulnerable families to secure accommodation.
The president highlighted the necessity for more “legal certainty” for property owners, which in her view is lacking in current legislation, and proposed enhancing deductions in the regional income tax or through the IGIC to stimulate property circulation.
CC Opposes Moratorium, Ecotax, and Measures to Regulate Tourist Expansion
It is important to recall that the Canarian Coalition, the party to which Rosa Dávila is affiliated, voted last week in the regional ParliamentOpposition to Six Measures put forward by NC-BC to promptly enact legislative measures for tourism and urban policy, tailored to the realities of the islands and the availability of public services.
Another proposal that was turned down was regarding the negative impact of the Department of Tourism and Employment of the Canary Islands Government’s call for regulation of holiday home rentals, leading to a surge in applications for this activity.
In response to this, there was a call for the Canary Islands Government to promptly enforce a moratorium on holiday home authorizations by decree law until the holiday home legislation is approved.
The proposal to introduce a tourist ecotax through legislation, primarily aimed at enhancing and reviving public infrastructure in tourist cities whilst preserving natural areas, resources and agricultural landscapes, and contributing to the environmental and social goals of the Canary Islands Agenda for Sustainable Development 2030, was also rejected.
Additionally, the proposal to prioritize and encourage the revitalization of tourist cities, the modernization of accommodations, diversification of offerings, decarbonization, digitization, ongoing staff training, and enhancing remuneration and working conditions in the sector through collective bargaining processes, was turned down.
Another rejected proposal was to advocate for the promotion of a circular economy as a strategy for progress towards social, economic, and environmental sustainability of the islands, fostering economic growth, enhancing competitiveness, encouraging innovation, and establishing a sustainable, decarbonized productive fabric that efficiently utilizes resources.
Lastly, the call for the Canary Islands Government to explore legal avenues to restrict the purchase of homes by non-resident foreigners for speculative purposes, driving up prices for residents, in accordance with the provisions allowed by article 349 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, was also dismissed.
