Over the past few years, there has been a significant surge in the number of motorhomes being used as primary residences in the Canary Islands. This trend is primarily driven by the housing crisis and the diminishing purchasing power of the local population.
This phenomenon is particularly noticeable in tourist hotspots like Arona, located in Tenerife, where many individuals working in the tourism industry have opted to make these vehicles their permanent homes. The presence of motorhomes has notably increased in areas like Playa de las Américas and Avenida de Ámsterdam in Los Cristianos.
The escalating conflicts arising from this upsurge have prompted the Arona City Council to conduct a census of motorhomes in order to establish new municipal regulations. This was confirmed by the Mayor of Arona, Fátima Lemes, in an interview with Cope Canary Islands.
Furthermore, a new issue has emerged with some of these motorhomes being listed for holiday rentals on various platforms, as highlighted by Juan Martín, the president of the Association of Approved Motorhomes and Campers of the Canary Islands, during an interview on Herrera in COPE Tenerife.
Martín has also raised concerns about these caravans lacking essential services like electricity and potable water, and often failing to meet the requirements for permanent residency, exploiting the lack of specific regulations in Arona.
In addition, reports have surfaced about the misuse of motorhomes for illicit activities such as solicitation, underscoring the urgent need for more defined and stringent regulations to tackle these issues.
