Antonio Morales, affirms that the Gran Canaria Corporation will promote the development of adventure or cultural tourism initiatives
The president of the Cabildo of Gran Canaria, Antonio Morales, has today ratified the desire of the Island Corporation to promote active tourism as “the tourist offer closest to the eco-island project”, considering that “there is no better response to the need for change in the tourism model that we have to face and for which we have developed a Strategic Plan, for the present five years.”
Morales made these statements at the opening of the Activa Canarias Professional Conference, which is held at the Elder Museum in the capital of Gran Canaria, organized by the Active Tourism Association, with the participation of Gran Canaria Tourism. An event that, already in 2019, when Las Palmas de Gran Canaria hosted the National Congress of Active Tourism, was a great boost for this sector, which was cut short by the outbreak of the pandemic. “We must ensure that this meeting resumes that momentum and that we manage to join forces for the change of model that Gran Canaria and the Canary Islands need,” the island president assured.
Active tourism is an alternative to mass tourism, which is carried out in contact with nature or cultural heritage. It is closely related to rural tourism and generally takes place outdoors, in natural environments, such as natural parks and biosphere reserves, among other environments, due to its ecological interest.
Antonio Morales has highlighted that the Cabildo's intention is to promote adventure or cultural tourism offers, with projects that are already underway, such as the Camino de Santiago between volcanoes, along with proposals for archaeological or health knowledge, such as some of the main variables of active tourism that can be offered and that will generate opportunities for this sector in Gran Canaria and throughout the Archipelago. “Some elements that make up a quality tourism offer with great experiential value, which, without a doubt, will attract tourists with greater purchasing power and give them reasons to stay more days in our land,” he noted.
Likewise, it has stressed the need to promote the northern and inland areas, "because we are aware that Gran Canaria has tourist attractions spread throughout the island territory", and has corroborated the Cabildo's commitment to promoting the coordination of the management of tourism resources and the digital transformation of all actors in the sector.
For his part, the insular Minister of Tourism, Carlos Álamo, who participated in the event together with Yaiza Castilla, Minister of Tourism of the Government of the Canary Islands, among other authorities, has agreed that active tourism “is an essential attribute to understand Gran Canaria as a tourist destination and we are aware that working on its improvement and enhancement brings us closer to our goal of achieving tourism excellence.” A path in which, he stressed, "we have many possibilities to promote business projects that promote our internal tourism and generate synergies between the population and tourists, that benefit complementary sectors and help distribute the wealth generated by this industry. by the 21 municipalities of the Island.”
In this regard, Antonio Morales has highlighted the Cabildo's confidence in the development of these companies on the Island, "due to the suitability, and even the necessity, of the wide variety of products and services they offer," he added. “A very extensive catalog worthy of our continent in miniature, and with enormous prospects for growth, just like in the Archipelago.”
Finally, the president of the Cabildo has highlighted the capacity of the Active Tourism Association to activate society. “This is the objective that we want to share with you. It is time to reactivate and promote the new sustainable tourism model,” he stated. And, to achieve this, he has guaranteed the firm support of the Insular Corporation to the sector, in order to overcome the crisis caused by the pandemic; and has encouraged him to join forces. “This is established in our Tourism Strategy 2021-2026, among whose main lines stands out the strengthening of collaboration between administrations and private entities, to improve resources,” he concluded. "Together we can achieve sustainable tourism, aligned with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and that generates value not only for tourists but also for the natural and cultural environment, and for citizens and companies."