The south of Gran Canaria, with its coastline and protected areas, is at a turning point. For decades, the lack of specific regional regulations for outdoor tourist accommodations has led to a haphazard and uncontrolled development of the land. The proliferation of caravans, spontaneous campsites, and newer types of accommodation such as cabins, yurts, and bubble tents has grown without any planning, generating territorial tensions and increasing environmental impact on fragile areas, many of them within the Natura 2000 network. Now, the Canary Islands Government has decided, as of this Monday, to bring order to the situation with an ambitious regulatory initiative that seeks to regulate this type of accommodation from three perspectives: economic, social, and environmental. To this end, it has submitted the draft legislation to the lawyers of the Advisory Council.
The south of the island, due to its geographical importance and high tourist pressure, will be one of the areas where the application of these regulations will be most necessary. The regulations not only aim to protect the environment from potential excesses, but also to ensure that users enjoy adequate facilities, with basic services and safety conditions that are currently, in many cases, nonexistent. With the regulations expected to come into effect three months after their publication, the archipelago is moving towards a more mature model, where outdoor tourism ceases to be an invisible phenomenon and becomes a sustainable, planned, and regulated link in the Canary Islands' economy.
The diagnosis is clear: a destination aspiring to maintain its international leadership cannot afford a legal vacuum in a rapidly expanding sector. This regulatory neglect, dating back to the elimination of "tourist campsites" in the old 1995 law, has left both government agencies and investors vulnerable. The lack of clear rules has hindered the development of adequate infrastructure, undermining both the legal certainty of entrepreneurs seeking to operate professionally and the comfort and guarantees of tourists. This new framework aims to move from the current uncertainty to a model where sustainability is the guiding principle.
The initiative, driven by the principles of the 2030 Agenda, finally classifies the different types of accommodation. Campsites, motorhome overnight areas, camping in rural buildings, and unique accommodations will be subject to regulations that prioritize the protection of rural land and the coastline. The goal is to ensure that the occupation of space is not the result of chance or lack of oversight, but rather a planned activity that meets the required safety and quality standards. To this end, the legislation links sustainability with competitiveness, guaranteeing that the new tourism model generates wealth and quality employment without compromising the natural environment.
The system will operate under a self-declaration model, simplifying unnecessary administrative burdens for developers while ensuring more effective inspections. Inter-administrative coordination will drive this change: the regional government will set opening conditions and minimum services, the Island Councils will manage the General Tourism Registry, and the municipalities will maintain their leading role in granting licenses and monitoring self-protection plans. This structure aims to avoid duplication and regulatory gaps that have historically hindered the coexistence of itinerant tourism and environmental conservation.
The economic impact of this regulation is expected to be positive. By providing legal certainty to operators, it is hoped that entrepreneurship and professionalization within the sector will be stimulated. Furthermore, the registration of these establishments will allow for improved tax collection and greater control over the available supply, eradicating unfair competition practices that have proliferated in the face of the current disorder. These new types of accommodation will thus be able to integrate into the formal economic system, contributing to the diversification of an offering that, traditionally dependent on sun and beach hotels, now seeks to adapt to the evolving demands of travelers who value both the quality of services and the preservation of the landscape.
