The African continent will focus its tourism offering on sustainable proposals that will seek to "steal" tourists from traditional destinations such as the Canary Islands
While in the south of Gran Canaria the debate on tourism sustainability continues to be a weapon thrown between institutions and groups, on the neighbouring continent innovation has become the key to the future. During a meeting held in Marrakech, tourism experts highlighted the need to invest in technology and youth training to promote a tourism model that is respectful of the environment and local communities.
Africa, with its natural and cultural wealth, is investing in tourism based on conservation and sustainable development. Initiatives such as ecotourism in Rwanda with mountain gorillas, sustainable safaris in Kenya or ecological lodges in South Africa are just some examples of the paradigm shift. Added to this is the strong investment in digitalisation, with platforms that connect travellers with local experiences without traditional intermediaries, thus democratising access to tourism.
But what impact can this shift have on the tourism industry in the south of Gran Canaria? On the one hand, the rise of these destinations means growing competition for tourists with high purchasing power, who are looking for authentic and exclusive experiences. Meanwhile, the offer in Maspalomas and Playa del Inglés remains anchored in a more traditional model, based on sun and sand, with hotels that are beginning to be renovated, but without a structural change in their value proposition.
The clear example of this are the various plans that have been launched to renovate the old shopping centres that plague the main tourist areas of the south of Gran Canaria and that in recent years have not seen a single effective change, beyond some order to board up dilapidated shopping malls.
On the other hand, the African commitment to sustainability could serve as an inspiration to reorient the Canarian tourism model. With the growing demand for more personalized and sustainable experiences, the south of Gran Canaria could learn from these success stories and integrate more ecological, digitalized tourism options with a positive impact on local communities.
The challenge is on the table: either the tourist offer in the south of Gran Canaria is reinvented with a vision for the future, or competition from the neighbouring continent, with its growing appeal and its commitment to innovation, will end up seducing travellers who previously chose the Canary Islands without thinking twice.
