Arona to bring in new regulations against motorhomes and campervans

The increasing number of caravans, motorhomes, and campervans on Tenerife’s streets has led the Cabildo to announce the drafting of an island ordinance to regulate this growing phenomenon. In the past this has been something that only happened during events like Easter Week, but now it is a ‘knock-on’ effect from the housing crisis with makeshift campsites appearing all over the island.

There has always been a problem with where they are allowed to park, as many towns lack suitable public or private designated areas, and the fact they can take up several parking spaces on roads, but now they are also occupying, in some cases, protected natural spaces

Municipalities like Los Silos, which have been dealing with this proliferation along their attractive coastline for years, with numerous pools and bathing spots ideal for campers, are awaiting this island ordinance. However, there are others unwilling to wait and are already taking action.

For instance, Granadilla is set to eliminate the increasingly prevalent camping near La Tejita Beach in between El Medano and Los Abrigos, because it is now spreading towards the Cueva del Hermano Pedro, which is protected land.

However, there are municipalities aiming to go further, including Arona, which is considering approving a municipal ordinance to regulate this phenomenon due to the complete absence of specific regulations, aside from providing "one or several camping or parking areas for these vehicles, similar to what other municipalities have done."

The Arona Council refers to Puerto de la Cruz, which in the previous administration, designated numerous parking spaces for these vehicles near the pier, where these public specific spaces coincide with private facilities, including showers, toilets, and other services, at the former Pichirri football field for a (relatively) modest daily fee.

According to Arona's councillor for Security and Services, Alexis Gómez, they are working on a new Municipal Mobility Ordinance to address the problem since the current one lacks any specific regulation, except for the usual traffic measures for these vehicles.

This new ordinance will allow for the "regulation and rotation of parking spaces" in the locality, among other considerations. Additionally, there are plans to designate "certain camping or parking areas for these types of vehicles, as other municipalities have done. The council is studying possible locations for the installation of one or more areas for this purpose."

For now, the Arona Council says that the regulation of motorhomes in the municipality, one of the biggest tourist destinations in the Canary Islands, especially along its coastline, follows Instruction PROT 2023/14, which refers to Annex II of the General Vehicle Regulations (approved by Royal Decree 2822/1998).

This regulation defines motorhomes as "vehicles built for a specific purpose, including habitation," detailing the equipment they contain, such as seats, tables, beds or bunks, kitchens, cabinets, and more.

Regarding parking, this regulation leaves the regime of stopping and parking on urban roads in the hands of local councils, through municipal ordinances, allowing for the adoption of necessary measures to prevent traffic congestion, including restrictions on parking hours and removal or immobilisation of vehicles lacking proper permits for certain areas.

Arona's City Council is currently working on this aspect to approve a local ordinance as soon as possible, regardless of whether the Cabildo later implements guidelines for the entire island.