SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE 3 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) –
This Thursday, Ascav urged the Government of the Canary Islands and the Ministry of Tourism to “cease the conflict” and retract the vacation rental legislation in order to “collaborate” on a new text with the sector involved in this type of accommodation.
“Let us not ignore the reality; the Canary Islands are currently facing a significant issue of widespread tension regarding tourism, which could be extremely costly for us. On the 20th, a large number of people took to the streets to express their frustrations, and the answer is not found in initiating further debates that pit society against tourists,” he states in a press release.
He expressed concern that the Canary Islands are starting to be perceived as an “anti-tourism destination,” given that tourists are “rebuked” on numerous occasions, with slogans such as “tourists go home” scrawled on the streets, or there are cancellations from travellers “fearful or offended at the prospect of being admonished for taking a holiday.”
In this regard, he warns that demonstrations are planned again on October 20 and highlights that, amid this situation, the Government of the Canary Islands has not implemented “any” measures. “Once again, we are turning away as if it were merely a flu that will resolve itself,” he emphasises.
The association condemns the notion that holiday housing is responsible for “gentrification, touristification, and tourismphobia,” especially following the “call effect” prompted by the announcement of the new legislation, and finds it inexplicable why there is “a lack of foresight and insufficient construction” of protected or social housing.
In this context, he laments that residents on the islands are advised to reside in “worker ghettos” located on the outskirts of tourist zones.
Therefore, he requests the initiation of a dialogue to arrive at “agreements” regarding the desired tourism model for the Canary Islands.
“The resolution to this tourism dilemma we are currently experiencing necessitates an in-depth discussion and the provision of solutions in the short and medium term, rather than creating laws that adversely affect Canarian families through emergency measures,” he states.
Ascav asserts that holiday rentals contribute an annual direct economic impact of €2.7 billion and support 40,000 jobs, cautioning that it is imperative to “respond to a hotel lobby that will inevitably dominate this market segment sooner or later.”
“There is no greater sustainability in tourism than that which fosters social wellbeing and a diverse economy for the Canary Islands, while safeguarding our history and heritage,” concludes the statement signed by the president, Doris Borrego.