Alejandro Marichal: “The Citizens’ Conferences on the Future and Sustainability of Tourism promoted by Coalición Canaria aim to open the debate with agents and professionals in the sector regardless of political ideologies”
The Citizens' Conference on the Future and Sustainability of Tourism, promoted by the Canary Islands Coalition in San Bartolomé de Tirajana, had in its second session Antonio Garzon as a featured speaker, a graduate in Economics and Business and a diploma holder in Tourism. Alejandro Marichal, Local Secretary of Coalición Canaria in San Bartolomé de Tirajana, was in charge of welcoming the attendees and introducing the speaker. Marichal highlighted that “the importance of these conferences lies in the participation of agents and professionals of the sector, who do not need to be politically linked, since the objective is to receive, listen and open the debate towards other visions that can generate initiatives and guide inclusive management for the entire population, regardless of political ideologies.”
In his lecture, Garzón proposed a unique tool to analyse the history of tourism on the island: “Ten letters sent to planners of the past, with recommendations at key moments since 1987, which now return updated with lessons and recommendations for the future.” The diploma in Tourism, through these ten “letters to the past,” identified critical moments and errors that have shaped the island’s tourism model. From the 1987 slowdown crisis, through island and regional moratoriums, to the regulation of accommodation supply, his analysis exposed key lessons and their impact on the region’s tourism competitiveness. However, the exercise was not limited to warnings to the past; Garzón took advantage of this reflection to update these messages, orienting them towards present and future challenges. In summary, Garzón presented “ten recommendations for tourism planning, redirected towards a sustainable future and adapted to current needs.”
“The future plans for tourism in Gran Canaria reflect a deep learning from past decisions, proposing innovative and sustainable solutions to current challenges,” said the speaker. Firstly, he stressed that, beyond limiting the supply of beds, the real challenge is to manage tourist land to avoid its massive transformation into residential properties. It is essential to maintain a balance between the tourist offer and residential use in tourist areas, avoiding both the saturation of beds and uncontrolled development of housing in areas originally intended for tourism. In addition, it is recognised that the moratoriums that limit capacity have proven insufficient and obsolete in their current form; instead, it is proposed to encourage selective and diversified growth, promoting accommodation typologies that not only attract new segments of tourists, but also integrate aspects of sustainability and ecology in their standards.
Modernising infrastructure is also key, not only in terms of basic quality, but also in line with the realities of climate change. This means creating shaded areas, green zones and climate refuge spaces in the island’s main tourist centres. At the same time, he stressed the importance of smart planning: “Instead of moratoriums that slow down development, it is crucial to opt for a proactive approach that guarantees long-term sustainable growth and avoids imbalances.”
Another essential pillar is legislative simplification, whose consolidation in a single legal framework would allow a more agile and clear response to the demands and challenges of today and the future. This framework should, in turn, contemplate ecological and sustainable mobility infrastructures that ensure adequate accessibility throughout the island and minimize the environmental impact, thus improving the competitiveness of Gran Canaria as a leading tourist destination.
He also proposed a balanced regulation of holiday rentals, complemented by housing policies that facilitate the coexistence of tourist and residential offerings. Limiting the conversion of homes into tourist rentals and protecting residential offerings is essential to maintaining access to housing and mitigating pressure in areas of high tourist demand.
On the social side, he stressed the need to constantly measure the satisfaction of the local population. “Having tools that allow us to evaluate the well-being and social acceptance of tourism offers the opportunity to adapt strategies and ensure that tourism is a benefit for everyone,” he specified. He also proposed creating a narrative that reflects not only the direct benefits, but also the indirect and derivative effects of tourism on the local economy and employment, combating the negative perception that is often associated with it and highlighting its vital contribution to the economic development of the Canary Islands.
Finally, dual vocational training (FP) is presented as an essential strategy, especially in a sector in need of talent and qualified labour. Dual FP, combined with a positive narrative about the professions in the sector, has the potential to motivate new generations towards a career in tourism. By communicating the value and opportunities offered by these professions, it not only contributes to reducing the talent shortage, but also generates a positive vision around one of the most globalised and enriching sectors of the labour market.
“This set of recommendations constitutes an ambitious and necessary roadmap for Gran Canaria to be able to manage its tourism development in a balanced, sustainable and beneficial way for all, integrating demographic and ecological factors into long-term planning that allows for resilient and positive tourism for the community,” concluded Garzón.
