The complaint by Luis de la Barrera, spokesperson for Drago Gran Canaria, regarding the south of the island is a cold shower that, unfortunately, reality confirms: the prevailing "developmentalism" in the Canary Islands prioritizes unchecked economic and tourism expansion, at the expense of the territory and its inhabitants. The most blatant example is the recent unblocking of the Meloneras 2A urban planning. This project will allow the plundering of 300.000 m² of virgin land for 3.600 new hotel beds, under the dubious excuse of public facilities. A decision that adds to the planned overcrowding in Santa Águeda Bay, the luxury villas in San Agustín, and the controversial Chira-Soria power plant.
The paradox is stark: while virgin territory is being consumed, much of the existing infrastructure in the south, "from Bahía Feliz to Maspalomas, is languishing. Abandoned shopping malls, crumbling buildings, neglected parks, and an outdated and low-quality accommodation offer are the norm," notes De la Barrera. An "all-inclusive" model that benefits tour operators and a select few, leaving little spending at the destination.
But the most serious consequence is on the housing market. In his opinion, the San Bartolomé de Tirajana market is a minefield for residents: zero homes for less than 500 euros, and a minimum offer below 800 euros, all of them one-bedroom. Added to this are more than 6.100 vacant homes and 3.500 vacation rentals, which stifle the Canarians' ability to access decent housing. The tourism regulation law, which fines owners for not transferring their apartments to developers, exacerbates this crisis, while 90% of real estate sales in the south end up in the hands of foreigners.
For Drago supporters, it is incomprehensible that the San Bartolomé de Tirajana City Council persists with a model that generates these dismal economic and social indicators. Drago Canarias proposes a diametrically opposite policy: guaranteeing decent housing with social rentals, VPO, and limiting vacation rentals and rental prices. They advocate declassifying tourist beds, rezoning land, and halting developments designed for "rich Europeans."
The nationalist party points out that beyond urban planning, its vision is to transform the productive model: investing in R&D&I, the blue economy, rural development, and new technologies. But the keystone is tourism: transforming mass tourism into one that redistributes wealth among the entire Canarian population. This requires improving wages and working conditions, eliminating massive tourism promotion campaigns and subsidies for tour operators and "all-inclusive" packages, supporting local consumption, and increasing revenue from the sector so that it benefits the citizens. In short, the proposal is clear: reduce tourism to put the Canarian people at the center. Stop being a "theme park backdrop" that drives out its own people. "Less developmentalism and much more Canarianism," adds De la Barrera.
