The Canary Islands' Minister of Tourism, Jéssica de León, has said she is opposed to the upcoming protests against the region's tourism model, scheduled for October 20th, claiming it as "a mistake" to hold these demonstrations in key tourist areas such as Las Americas, Maspalomas, and Corralejo.
Speaking at the Turespaña convention, which is being held at the Piramide De Arona in Playa Las Americas in the south of Tenerife, De León acknowledged the right of citizens to protest but said that choosing the streets of tourist zones as the place for such demonstrations could have huge negative consequences.
"I fully respect the right to protest, but I believe it's a mistake to do so in areas that are vital to our economy," she said.
De León highlighted that the Canary Islands are on a "positive path" and that the regional government is implementing "brave policies" aimed at addressing long-term issues.
One such initiative is a new updated law on the use of residential properties for holiday lets, which she expects to enter Parliament within a few weeks. The legislation aims to regulate the holiday rental market, which now accounts for 40% of available accommodations in the Canary Islands.
The minister also acknowledged that while some of the challenges faced by Canary Islanders, such as rising mortgage rates, fuel costs, and inflation, are indirectly related to the tourism industry, many are not directly connected.
However, she stressed the importance of balancing the needs of residents with the demands of the tourism sector, particularly through efforts to modernise accommodation and improve working conditions.
De León’s comments came during the opening of the convention, which brings together public and private stakeholders in the tourism sector to discuss and solutions to key challenges facing the tourism industry.
