News from Tenerife (#18) is published weekly as a brief news summary of the past week on your favorite website.
In this series, we publish a number of events and news facts from the past week. Each article in News from Tenerife is a synthesis of several facts, actions, and incidents that are too short to be published as a full-fledged article.
Illegal Rentals Now Under Control
News from Tenerife #18/1
The government of the Canary Islands has acquired an additional tool to regulate illegal vacation rentals. Booking.com has granted the regional government access to its portal, enabling them to identify and remove non-compliant listings.
As part of this agreement, the Ministry’s inspection team and members of the Canary Islands Police will receive online training from Booking.com. This training will equip them with the necessary skills to effectively use the portal and report accommodations that do not comply with regional regulations, which will then be removed and blocked from the platform by Booking.com. Simultaneously, discussions are also being held with other digital providers, such as Airbnb.
In addition to this collaboration, the Ministry of Tourism has reached an agreement with the public company Grafcan, which is responsible for geographic and territorial data in the Canary Islands. As a result, Grafcan has integrated a new layer into its digital mapping system, providing detailed information about tourism activities in the archipelago. This function allows authorities to pinpoint the location of vacation rentals, assess their land classification, and coordinate enforcement efforts with the relevant regulatory bodies.
Currently, the Canary Islands offer a total of 643,056 tourist accommodations, of which 371,379 are in hotels and apartment complexes, while 271,677 are classified as vacation rentals. The government’s latest measures aim to ensure that all accommodations operate within the legal framework, safeguarding the integrity of the region’s tourism sector.
Forty Percent More Environmental Violations
News from Tenerife #18/2
Environmental agents of the Cabildo de Tenerife handled over 900 reports of environmental violations in 2024, specifically 906, representing a 37.8% increase compared to the previous year. Of this total, 612 cases fell under the jurisdiction of the island’s administration, while 294 cases were referred to the relevant authorities for further handling, such as the Canary Islands Agency for Environmental Protection, the Spanish Aviation Safety Agency, and the Environmental Prosecutor.
Specifically, 114 reports of violations were issued concerning protected natural areas, including unauthorized camping, unlicensed activities, or failure to comply with conditions, off-road driving, violations of fire prevention regulations in forested areas, illegal dumping, storage, and abandonment of materials and waste, according to a statement from the Cabildo.
Other infractions pertained to hunting activities, environmental protection, forestry services, grazing areas, and activities in Teide National Park.
Fines vary depending on the type of violation. For example, lighting a fire in a protected natural area with serious risk to its integrity can result in fines of up to €6,000, while driving, stopping, or parking a vehicle—whether motorized or not—off designated paths in a protected area, posing a danger to pedestrians, can incur fines ranging from €1,500 to €6,000.
Organizing a commercial activity without a permit carries a fine of €600, while camping in an exclusion or restricted zone is fined €400.
If agricultural waste is burned without a permit, fines can range from €700 to €1,000, depending on the risk period, proximity to forests, and fire supervision. Hunting out of season can result in fines of up to €1,000.
Nearly Half a Million People with Reduced Mobility Assisted at Airports
News from Tenerife #18/3
The airport service ‘Sin Barreras’ – Without Barriers – assisted 453,030 people with reduced mobility at Canary Islands airports last year. A total of 206,583 assistances were provided upon arrival and 246,447 upon departure, facilitating boarding and disembarking from flights.
Tenerife South Airport recorded the highest number of assistances, with 145,063 people helped, followed by Gran Canaria with 116,025, César Manrique-Lanzarote with 91,122, Fuerteventura with 52,961, Tenerife North-Ciudad de La Laguna with 35,438, La Palma with 10,268, El Hierro with 1,651, and La Gomera with 502 people requiring physical assistance.
The support service for people with reduced mobility (PRM) is available free of charge at all airports with commercial flights, ensuring that everyone, regardless of their disability or mobility limitations, has access to air travel under the best quality conditions.
Since the service was implemented, Aena has worked intensively to maintain a high level of service. Over the years, the service has received multiple awards and international recognitions. One of the most prestigious was the first prize in the UNPSA 2013 Awards, granted by the United Nations, considered the most prestigious international award in the field of public service.
The staff providing assistance is highly qualified and meets the training requirements set by both Aena and the Spanish Committee of Representatives of Persons with Disabilities (CERMI).
Complaints About Scooters in Santa Cruz
News from Tenerife #18/4
The Santa Cruz Local Police recorded a total of 91 infractions committed by electric scooter users in 2024, of which 70 were officially processed, and so far, only 21 fines have been collected. This was the response to a question in the municipal council regarding the number of incidents involving 646 rented personal mobility vehicles in the city, now that the system has been in operation for eight months.
Most police complaints stem from user misuse. Additionally, the monthly report from Dott, the only rental company still active in the capital, indicated that up to January, 270 alerts were processed. These reports mainly concerned scooters that were incorrectly parked or abandoned. Additionally, 44 cases of vandalism were recorded, 2 accidents, 398 parking fines, and 13 sanctions for being outside the designated area. Nevertheless, 95% of the scooters were parked correctly. The average distance traveled per ride was 1.8 kilometers, with an average duration of 9 minutes per trip.
Regarding the rental company’s activities in the past month, Alonso stated that there are currently nearly 3,000 active users and that a total of 40,700 rides have been made. Of these, 6,500 rides were part of a resident promotion, and 1,144 rides were from other promotional campaigns. Additionally, 3,200 applications were submitted for the resident discount, which allows for free scooter rentals. So far, 1,119 applications have been approved.
Illegal Taxi Driver Hits Motorcyclist in Arona and Flees
News from Tenerife #18/5
A serious incident occurred on Friday, February 7, 2025, in Arona, when an illegal taxi driver, known as ‘Gurú-gurú,’ hit a motorcyclist and then fled, leaving the victim with severe injuries.
The accident happened around 6:00 p.m. on the Las Galletas road, when the driver of a Mercedes made an illegal left turn and struck a motorcyclist. Eyewitnesses stated that after the collision, the driver abandoned his vehicle and fled on foot toward the coast, between Las Burras beach and the Punta Rasca lighthouse.
The motorcyclist sustained open fractures in both legs and was stabilized at the scene by emergency services before being transported by a Canary Islands Emergency Service (SUC) ambulance to Hospiten Sur.
The local police in Arona and the Guardia Civil have launched an investigation to locate the fleeing driver. The vehicle, a Mercedes known as “Gurú-gurú,” was abandoned at the accident site. Residents expressed concern over reckless driving behaviors in the region and emphasized the need for stricter traffic controls to ensure road safety.
Authorities hope that witness statements will help quickly identify and arrest the perpetrator of this tragic incident.
These events and developments significantly impact life on Tenerife and illustrate the diversity of challenges, developments, and opportunities the island faces.
News from Tenerife continues to bring you the most relevant stories from the island.
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News from Tenerife #18 ©
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