New law officially recognises tourist municipalities in Canary Islands

Landmark law for tourist municipalities approved

The approval of the Tourist Municipality Law by the Canary Islands Parliament last week – a widely consensual move, with only the far-right abstaining – takes us back to tasks from a bygone era. During the second autonomous legislative period and the 1995-99 municipal term, a handful of specialists and experts in tourism matters worked hard to achieve specific legal recognition for this status. The primary goal was to ensure that local councils, above all, could guarantee funding for their budgets when it came to providing services that, in many cases, were far greater in volume than those required for a much smaller official population register.

Back then, and in the years that followed, the concept of an “assisted population” was coined, though it later fell out of favour. Initially, a Statute for Tourist Municipalities was proposed, followed by endless debates trying to determine what – across all the islands – the full tourist condition that would define or distinguish a tourist municipality should be called.

Two categories: excellence and singularity

The law, originally promoted by thirteen local councils and later taken up by all local entities through the Canary Islands Federation of Municipalities (Fecam), creates for the first time a specific legal framework for municipalities whose activity is dominated by tourism. These councils provide public services to a population far larger than their registered number of residents.

The legislation establishes two categories: “Tourist Municipality of Excellence of the Canary Islands” and “Tourist Municipality of Singularity of the Canary Islands.” To be considered for excellence status, councils must meet two out of three requirements: their annual tourist population must be five times greater than the registered population; they must have at least four thousand tourist accommodation places; or they must have five-star accommodation places or units equal to or exceeding 10% of the registered population. Furthermore, tourism activity must account for more than 15% of the municipal economy, verified through a report from the Economic and Social Council or one of the two public universities in the Canary Islands.

To become a Tourist Municipality of Singularity, the law requires proof of at least two resources of singular tourist interest, and that tourism activity accounts for more than 5% of the local economy. However, for the green islands and municipalities facing demographic challenges, just one singular resource will suffice.

Rights, obligations and indefinite validity

The declaration will be issued by the Government of the Canary Islands by decree, upon request from the interested council and following an absolute majority vote in the plenary session. The status will have indefinite validity, unless the requirements are lost, there are repeated breaches, or an express renunciation is made.

Under the approved text, tourist municipalities will have the right to use this designation, join regional and island promotion programmes, participate in advisory tourism bodies, and be taken into account when policies on infrastructure and services that affect tourism are developed. They will also assume obligations such as adapting their bylaws, approving municipal tourism planning instruments, maintaining public spaces, protecting natural and cultural heritage, strengthening tourism services, promoting sustainable mobility, and encouraging citizen participation.

Specific services they must provide include environmental surveillance, enhanced cleaning in tourist areas, noise control, beach surveillance and lifeguarding, accessible tourist information, and keeping visitor information on their websites up to date.

A new era of demands and challenges

The responsibilities reserved for tourist municipalities are neither few nor insignificant. On the contrary, they become a requirement that will force mayors, councillors, bodies and specific committees to rethink many things. In short, a new era of demands – and even challenges – has begun, covering resources, inspection and oversight. Let those who have washed their hands of the matter, or who have only cared about getting their picture taken or attending a jolly, be fully aware.

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