Fury has erupted in the Canary Islands after Tenerife confirmed it will be implementing a major new ban on a beauty spot that could change the landscape of tourists’ holidays for good.
Tourist buses will be banned from accessing the Anaga Rural Park starting January 2025, before the peak spring and summer seasons.
Tenerife Cabildo President Rosa Dávila announced the decision, which is part of a larger reform to improve traffic flow and protect the island’s natural beauty.
Dávila emphasised that the new measures are part of a broader strategy to replace what she described as the “obsolete model” of mobility currently in place on the island.
These measures are designed not only to reduce traffic congestion but also to protect Tenerife’s fragile ecosystems.
It is hoped that limiting access for large tourist buses will help preserve the tranquillity of Anaga Rural Park and that both tourists and locals can continue to enjoy the area without the disruptions caused by heavy traffic.
However, the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) slammed the strict measures.
Hitting back, Dávila emphasised the administration’s commitment to free public transportation, quoting the addition of 7,000 new bus journeys designed to alleviate congestion.
According to Dávila, these initiatives have already led to the elimination of 23 million vehicle trips over the past 15 months, significantly reducing traffic congestion.
Amongst the plans is the creation of a new parking area in Las Canteras to further restrict traffic in the Anaga Massif. This initiative aims to further restrict traffic to the Anaga Massif, a protected natural area of stunning beauty.
Tenerife Tourism Corporation CEO Dimple Melwani, speaking at World Travel Market in London, said the island is not facing overtourism issues but is focusing on diversifying its tourist base.
“In the Canary Islands, we are far from the rates of tourist overcrowding of other competing destinations in the Mediterranean area,” Melwani said.
The goal, she added, is to promote Tenerife as a destination for “outdoor sports, gastronomy, and traditions,” rather than just low-cost holidays.
