The President, Fernando Clavijo, advocates for strategies to mitigate the effect of the nearly 18 million tourists that arrive on the islands.
SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 2nd October (EUROPA PRESS) –
The President of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, reiterated this Wednesday in Malta the Canary Islands’ committed stance towards promoting sustainable tourism. He emphasised that this pledge to sustainability is essential and cannot be delayed within the archipelago and across all island territories in Europe, which require legislative and financial backing from both their governments and Brussels.
To this end, the head of the autonomous government seized his opportunity at a working table during the Conference of Peripheral and Maritime Regions (CRPM) in Malta to champion a ‘unified front’ from the European islands advocating for sustainable tourism and calling for EU involvement in its advancement.
He asserted that this solidarity is “crucial for ensuring sustainable tourism becomes one of the priorities of the new European Commission.”
During the opening session of the workshop focused on connectivity and sustainable tourism, Clavijo recalled that the Canary Islands are currently engaged in a process of discussion aimed at reaching agreements on measures that will ensure the tourism sector’s benefits are shared with the entire population.
He stated that councils, local authorities, economic stakeholders, universities, and civil organisations are all taking part in this reflective process, announcing that results from their efforts will soon be available, guided by a commitment to sustainable tourism.
In front of representatives from over 100 European regions, the leader of the regional government pointed out that the Canary Islands are among the EU’s island territories most adversely impacted by climate change and the influx of tourists; hence, “they must spearhead a development that is economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable.”
Fernando Clavijo specifically highlighted the secondary effects tourism pressure is inflicting on the Canary Islands.
“This year we are set to welcome nearly 18 million visitors,” he observed, stressing the need for measures to be implemented to tackle the implications of such a high volume of tourists on a “small, remote, and fragmented territory” like the islands.
HOUSING AND ECOSYSTEM
He particularly referred to the challenges relating to housing accessibility due to soaring prices and the limited property availability caused by holiday tourism, which the Canary Islands Government aims to rectify through the bill it is currently processing.
Moreover, during his address at this international forum, Clavijo underscored the pressure that visitors place on natural spaces, the landscape, and even the traditions of the archipelago.
In his presentation, the President conveyed to his territorial colleagues within the EU that the Canary Islands are confronted with “two distinct realities”: some islands are overpopulated while others are witnessing population decline.
“We also have to tackle the demographic challenge,” he mentioned, referring to the five working groups established to devise strategies for addressing it.
The Vice-Minister of Tourism, José Manuel Sanabria, also participated in this CPMR seminar entitled ‘Transport and Tourism in the Peripheral Maritime Regions: Debating challenges and exploring opportunities for transport solutions and a sustainable model for the tourism sector.’
Furthermore, this event takes place just a day before the Islands Commission of the Conference of Regions debates and votes on a draft declaration from the Canary Islands in support of sustainable tourism across European islands, which will be advocated in Thursday’s session by President Fernando Clavijo.
