anaga tourism firms urge dialogue over car rental ban

Anaga Tourism Firms Urge Dialogue Over Car Rental Ban

Tourism Sector Calls for Consensus on Anaga Traffic

Tourism businesses operating in Anaga have asked La Laguna Council to focus on consensus and mobility management instead of resorting to banning rental cars and tourist vehicles in an attempt to ease traffic gridlock in the Rural Park. The request comes after the local authority approved restrictions on access for these types of vehicles to the natural space, a measure which the Association of Natural Area Operators of Tenerife (AOENTE) considers insufficient to solve the underlying problem and which could also generate unintended effects.

Selective Restrictions “Not the Solution”

AOENTE acknowledges that the current situation in Anaga requires urgent action. The saturation of vehicles in some parts of the massif has long affected residents, visitors, and businesses, but they believe that focusing the response on a single type of vehicle will not solve the mobility conflict. The association argues that the pressure on Anaga does not depend solely on rental cars or tourist transport, but on the total volume of vehicles accessing the massif and the inherent limitations of its road network. Therefore, they warn that applying selective restrictions may fall short if the problem is not addressed with a broader vision.

Proposals for a Managed Access Model

The group has announced it will request a meeting with the Council to analyse the situation jointly and move towards “consensual” solutions. The businesses insist that a space as complex as the Anaga Rural Park cannot be managed with unilateral decisions or without involving those who work in the territory daily. Their approach involves opening a dialogue table to design a shared model of access and mobility, capable of combining environmental conservation with the wellbeing of residents and the economic activity linked to the natural space.

Joan Rodríguez de la Sierra, President of AOENTE, has argued that “the key is not to prohibit, but to manage access and mobility effectively in a territory with evident limitations.” According to the sector, specialised companies not only develop tourist activity but also help organise visits, promote responsible use of the environment, and reduce impacts in a space of high environmental value. In this vein, they maintain they can play an active role in any mobility strategy promoted for Anaga.

Key Measures Proposed by Operators

Among the proposals put forward, the businesses suggest implementing access control systems to the natural space or its car parks to adjust demand to the real capacity of the territory. In their view, such tools would prevent saturation at source, improve the distribution of visitors, and increase safety for traffic within the massif. They also advocate for the creation or improvement of park-and-ride facilities, so that some traffic does not go directly to the most sensitive areas of the park.

Another measure they consider a priority is strengthening public transport to Anaga, with better frequency, timetables, and coverage to make it a real alternative for both residents and tourists. This is coupled with the need to provide more and better information to visitors before they access the massif, with clear data on access points, occupancy levels, and mobility alternatives. The goal is to anticipate decisions and reduce pressure on the most congested spots.

The sector also believes it is necessary to increase traffic control and surveillance presence during peak times and in the busiest locations to ensure compliance with any measures adopted. Furthermore, they call for better organisation of existing parking spaces to prevent uncontrolled parking, a practice that reduces road capacity and increases on-road risks.

Moving Towards Balanced Management

Among the avenues AOENTE considers most effective is also promoting organised group transport, as they believe it can reduce the number of vehicles in circulation and improve the management of visitor flows. The businesses argue that, applied progressively and in a coordinated manner, these measures would allow progress towards a more balanced management model, based on planning, control, and shared responsibility.

The Association of Natural Area Operators of Tenerife brings together some of the island’s main tourism operators and companies linked to natural areas, including TUI España, Island Excursion, Receptivo Canarias Travel, Atlántico Excursiones, Elegant Excursions, Golden Tours, Transalex Bus, Forestal Nature Park Canarias, El Cardón Educación Ambiental and Teleférico del Teide, among others.

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