The Adeje mayor told a conference with representatives from Spain’s 18 most important tourism destinations that “now is the moment to work together and right now the synchronisation with the national administration is excellent. Together we have to generate a strategic plan for tourism which will create wealth and distribute that wealth, creating training opportunities, job opportunities, excellence in services and wellbeing for our citizens. This is the big commitment that these two bodies are looking for”, the mayor and alliance president told the conference, being held in Adeje today and tomorrow. The regions present at the conference represent almost half of the Spanish tourism offer.
José Miguel Rodríguez Fraga told press attending the event that “the tourism boroughs are seeking to be allowed take part in finding the solution to the current problems we are facing...in a region such as ours, in a country such as ours, where tourism is basic to our economy. For our regions it is vital that we are playing a part given our experience.
"We are dealing with a financial situation that hasn’t been resolved – we need this money to provide adequate services. On the other side we are aware of the messages that we need to heed regarding ecological transition, competitiveness, sustainability, digitalisation...things we need to work on together, businesses and administrations. We must adapt tourism to that future” he added.
"Tourism has been the economic motor of the Canaries and Spain, but we can improve. We will work together and with the other administrations in decision making centres”; Rodriguez Fraga promised.
At the opening session the mayor of Benidorm, Antonio Pérez, handed over the presidency of the AMT to Rodriguez Fraga. Also taking part in the inaugural session were Canarian regional president Ángel Victor Torres, the Spanish minister for tourism, commerce and industry, Reyes Maroto, and the Tenerife Cabildo president Pedro Martín, joined at the top table by AMTC vice-president and mayor of Mogán, Onalia Bueno.
The minister, joining by video conference from Madrid, told the gathering that “we are now seeing signs of recovery and that has so much to do with the successful vaccination programme. I would also like to underline the valuable contribution of the mayors who have worked to protect tourism activity. The sector has suffered a lot during this pandemic and we have been there to help. Spain is a safe destination and we will see tourists return. While we are still not seeing the numbers we enjoyed in 2019 we do see the recovery”.
Ángel Torres told the conference “that he was delighted at the decision of the council of ministers today to approve the tourism sustainability plan with almost €50 million for Canarian projects.” He said that the challenge for the future would be to adapt to new forms of tourism and applauded the commitment between public bodies and private businesses to work together.
Pedro Martín said the Cabildo saw very clearly that “tourism is a fundamental pillar in our economy and jobs market and that is why we have worked to strengthen the sector with sustainability as the priority.” He added that he believed the Cabildos of the islands had a lot to contribute and by working together we could all emerge stronger from this situation.
Taking part in the conference were representatives of Adeje, Arona, San Bartolomé de Tirajana, Benidorm, Calvià, Lloret de Mar, Salou and Torremolinos alongside the other members of the association of Canarian tourism boroughs, Guía de Isora, Puerto de la Cruz, Santiago del Teide, San Bartolomé de Tirajana, Mogán, Antigua, La Oliva, Pájara, Teguise, Tías and Yaiza.
Other changes in the ATM administratino say Pere Granados, mayor of Salou taking on the vice-presidency, and Jaume Dulsat i Rodríguez, mayor of Lloret de Mar is the alliance’s new secretary.,
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La Palma
José Miguel Rodríguez Fraga told the confernce that betwen the the AMT and the AMTC will donate €50,000 to La Palma to help those affected by the ongoing volcanic activity. He also said that both bodies hoped schedule a meeting in La Palma next December demonstrate their solidarity with ‘La Isla Bonita’.
