In the framework of the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the creation of the Provincial Tourism Board, now known as the Gran Canaria Tourism Board, the president of the Island Council, Antonio Morales, reflected on the past, present, and future of a sector that, in his opinion, has been a driving force of transformation and dignity for the island. In a speech that addresses both economic achievements and social and environmental challenges, Morales emphasizes the need to reorient the tourism model toward sustainability and equity.
The president highlights the evolution of the sector, from visionary pioneers like Néstor Martín-Fernández de la Torre in 1934 to the historic record turnover reached in 2024, at €6.034 billion. These figures, according to Morales, demonstrate that tourism has been a lever for extraordinary development, raising average household income by 20% in the last decade and achieving the highest employment rate in the island's history. "Tourism has been much more than an industry," he affirms, "it has been a vector of dignity and opportunity."
Despite the successes, Morales does not hide the "imbalances and excesses" that have generated growing discontent among a portion of the population. He recognizes the saturation of public services, rising housing costs, and precarious employment as consequences of constant growth. Therefore, the Cabildo is promoting a new management model, not based on massive visitor growth, but rather on increased spending per tourist, decentralization of supply, and diversification into products such as rural, active, gastronomic, and cultural tourism. "We cannot continue to grow in terms of visitor numbers and built-up area," he concludes.
Looking to the future, the president proposes a series of key measures for the sector: more quality and less quantity, the defense of the implementation of an eco-tax, the control of holiday homes, and the limitation of home purchases by foreigners. Morales emphasizes that the challenge is to turn tourism into an "ally of sustainability," reinforcing water and energy sovereignty, protecting heritage, and ensuring that income reaches the majority of society. "Gran Canaria cannot and should not become a massified and impersonal destination," he concludes. "It must continue to be a place that invites people to live fully, that cares for its environment and its people." The president's vision is clear: tourism is a collective project in which the well-being of residents is as important as the satisfaction of visitors.
