The Santa Cruz City Council advocates for the area of significant tourist activity (ZGTA), which would entail commercial openings every day of the week. Although a trade table has yet to be convened to discuss this initiative, the proposal has already sparked considerable controversy, particularly among small and medium-sized retailers who oppose this extension. The first deputy mayor, Carlos Tarife, supports the idea of Sunday openings, aiming to position the city as “a major capital.”
-Why has the City Council suggested a debate to expand the area of significant tourist activity in Cabo Llanos?
“This discussion is absolutely essential. Santa Cruz is one of the few capitals that opts not to generate economic activity one day a week, resulting in lost opportunities. We need to deliberate on this necessity, which will bring about an economic shift on the island. We should encourage people to view Santa Cruz as a destination to visit on Sundays, especially from May to September.”
-Is this initiative in response to demand from residents, tourists, or shopping centres?
“The approach is not primarily linked to these aspects but reflects the city’s evolution. Seventeen or eighteen years ago, this city was primarily industrial. Nowadays, we are promoting projects that connect us with the sea, such as the puddles, the block, or the specific plan for the regulation of the Teresitas. We plan to improve the San Andrés breakwaters to enhance access to the beach formed by the dike. Urban Plus Santa Cruz 2030 will oversee the entire coast from Honduras to the Palmetum, and by the end of the year, we will have the basic project for the new maritime platform at Añaza. The aim is to open on Sundays to attract numerous visitors to enjoy our grand capital. We must prepare the city for future changes.”
-Are there any specific dates being considered for this extension?
“We must create the necessary consensus, starting from the premise that everyone broadens their perspective. The Numantine positions of the central and coastal zones, with a blue flag expected in 2026, should be acknowledged. We are pushing to open all access points to the city, not only so that the locals choose to stay in Santa Cruz on Sundays but also so that many visitors will come during that time. Shopping centres are an option, but given our pleasant temperatures, there is nothing better than a stroll through our historic centre, having a drink, shopping in small stores, and enjoying a refreshing swim. There is no precise date for this initiative yet, but as mayor in 2027, this will be one of my top priorities, as I advocate for Sunday openings and transforming Santa Cruz into a leading capital.”
-Some associations, like Avory, and unions oppose this measure, claiming it could spell the end of local businesses. How do you respond?
“Small shops have not perished in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria due to this opening system, nor have they in cities like Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Bilbao, or Malaga, which I would like to compare. We need to compete with the major cities, not the small ones. Therefore, if we aspire to greatness, we must think on a larger scale. The main beneficiaries will be the hundreds of thousands of people in Tenerife who will see Santa Cruz as a vibrant location. In large stores, anyone can shop via mobile devices, but small shops do not have this advantage.”
-What do you attribute the disagreement from central merchants to?
“I believe there are individuals who may find changes more challenging because they are more conservative. However, this is not about reversing the progress we have achieved; on the contrary. This City Council has made significant strides over the past year. We will not merely imitate; we must adopt the model of great capitals where shops open every Sunday, which guarantees success.”
-The central area is requesting more parking and initiatives to stimulate local trade before considering an extension of the ZGTA. Will this be addressed?
“There is an ample parking facility at the interchange, which connects to the city centre via tram, with bus services being free. We are also developing a bike lane that will reach this interchange so that everyone who parks there can travel easily. We are contemplating private concessions or using public funds to solidify this mandate.”
-Will the establishment of the area of significant tourist activity, combined with the bike lane that may reduce traffic, create a conflicting situation?
“There is no autonomous or provincial capital where Sunday openings and bike lanes in the centre are incompatible. Just look at Bilbao, Málaga, Alicante, Valencia, Madrid, or Barcelona, and even Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. It is clear that Sunday openings alongside the presence of a bike lane can coexist, and those who deny this are mistaken. Remember Santa Cruz where cars used to park in Castillo, San José, Plaza de la Candelaria, or Plaza de España streets.”
-The demand from the centre area includes suggestions for the City Council to install smart ticket offices for online purchases within the city. Will this be considered?
“This is an excellent proposal to establish smart ticket offices in the centre of Santa Cruz. In fact, we have already implemented this idea at the Our Lady of Africa market, where we will also launch a website on April 1 for digital purchases, allowing customers to collect their items at a designated kiosk.”
-Are there initiatives to support local trade?
“We have initiated many improvements aimed at small businesses, such as Domingo Bonds, which have been successful, even though the number of shops open was limited. There are also consumption vouchers that we are promoting with great success. Additionally, we are assessing the issue of ticket offices in the city centre, along with ongoing projects to enhance the area and make it more appealing. This year, we will formalise an agreement for the pedestrianisation of Santiago street, alongside the renovations at Lake Plaza de España, where we are looking to have the largest Christmas tree in the country.”
-When is the trade table expected to convene to review this proposal?
“The City Council is eager to begin discussing the city’s future shortly, and within this forum, we will cover topics such as street rehabilitation, road surfacing, value enhancement of the children’s area, and looking ahead to the changes that await the city. We must not adopt Numantine positions that I do not support or comprehend, as they do not contribute to the growth of Santa Cruz.”
