News from Tenerife is published on Monday as a short news overview 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 2 is a synthesis of various facts, actions, and incidents that are too brief to be featured as a full article.
Burned Pine Trees to be Removed
News from Tenerife 2 (1)
The pine trees severely damaged by the massive wildfire in 2023 will be removed to accelerate the recovery of the protected area Parque Natural del Teide, where the fire destroyed 1,235 hectares of forest.
The Tenerife island government has announced that the state-owned company Gesplan has been commissioned to carry out forest restoration work in the hardest-hit area, where ecosystems have been affected, mainly the Canary pine forests and high-altitude scrublands.
This intervention is estimated to cost approximately €510,500 and will have an implementation period of nine months. The work will involve the removal of burned Canary pine trees, the clearing of affected scrublands, and the construction of barriers using materials from the fire to prevent erosion of the slopes. Plant residues will also be treated to reduce the risk of future fires.
The goal of this intervention is to restore the ecological balance of the Teide area as quickly as possible and to halt the degradation of the fire-affected lands. The island government has allocated €11 million for a comprehensive recovery plan that will span the next three years and will focus on restoring the forest mass in the Teide National Park and surrounding areas.
The restoration of the pine forests and the replanting of native species will not only help recover the damaged area but also protect the entire environment from future fires, or at least limit their spread.
Hotel Sector Concerned About Wave of Thefts
News from Tenerife 2 (2)
Concerns are growing in the hotel sector in the south of Tenerife due to a wave of thefts from safes in four- and five-star hotels in Playa de las Américas and Costa Adeje. Hotels are increasing private security and doubling the number of receptionists in response to a series of break-ins involving room safes.
Specifically, several thefts have been reported to the National Police, all occurring in luxury hotel facilities in the municipalities of Arona and Adeje. The burglars enter through the gardens and gain access to the hotel rooms.
One break-in in the room of an Italian investor cost him all his clothes and more than €3,000 from the room safe. Another tourist reported the disappearance of a watch worth €45,000 that he had left in the room. Hoteliers have informed the police that this could be the work of a gang that has been active in the south of the island for a few weeks.
Additionally, there has been an increase in thefts on the most tourist-heavy streets of Los Cristianos, Playa de las Américas, Costa Adeje, and Playa Fañabé. Many of these robberies take place in broad daylight, with the perpetrators threatening their victims with a sharp object.
XXIII Rallye Clásica Tenerife
News from Tenerife 2 (3)
The Tenerife Classic, a regularity test organized by the Royal Automobile Club of Tenerife (RAT), aims, among other things, to preserve this mobile heritage by showcasing the island’s rolling museum to those interested—now in its 23rd edition.
This year, the XXIII Tenerife Classic will pay homage to agility tests that were a reference in the 1960s on the island. However, unlike previous years, the rally will not visit another island, such as La Gomera or La Palma. Instead, the event will take place on Tenerife on November 1, 2, and 3, with stages in Parque Rural de Anaga, Las Cañadas del Teide, and Los Gigantes Cliffs, with the start and finish at García Sanabria Park in the capital of Tenerife.
So far, almost a hundred vehicles have registered, including last year’s winners, David Liceras and Ainhoa Ayarra from Madrid, who will participate with an MG Morgan, a car borrowed from Tenerife owners. The list of participants also includes teams from England, America, and Argentina.
To date, 28 brands and up to 75 different models have been registered, along with the three most spectacular sports cars in the Canary Islands in the Tribute category. Triumph remains the dominant brand among the participants, closely followed by Mercedes and Jaguar.
For three days, you can see a hundred historic cars on Tenerife’s roads, produced between 1935 and 1973. These will take part in the rally, which consists of regularity stages and tourism sections. The event kicks off on Friday, November 1, at García Sanabria Park in the capital, where the vintage cars will also return on Sunday for the award ceremony.
Bahía del Duque Among Europe’s Best
News from Tenerife 2 (4)
Bahía del Duque has been named one of the best resorts in Europe. During the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2024, readers were invited to vote for some of the most popular international travel destinations.
The famous magazine, which specializes in travel and lifestyle, annually invites its audience to vote for the most exceptional hotels and resorts worldwide. Bahía del Duque is the only resort in Tenerife to be included in this edition, and one of three resorts in all of Spain to make the list of the “best of the best.”
Bahía del Duque, located in Costa Adeje, ranks 21st on an exclusive list of 25 tourist complexes in Europe. The significance of this award lies in the fact that the votes are cast by the readers themselves via the magazine’s website, adding value to the recognition. A total of 126,790 people participated in the vote.
This achievement would not have been possible without the commitment and dedication of the Bahía del Duque team, who tirelessly work to provide guests with an unforgettable experience. This award encourages them to continue cementing Bahía del Duque as a benchmark for excellence and quality worldwide.
With over 30 years of history and chosen by many experts as one of the best hotel companies in Europe, Bahía del Duque has remained faithful to its core values of service excellence, customer care, and guest well-being.
Its location, on a vast 100,000-square-meter estate, and its architectural uniqueness make it an international icon in the world of luxury hospitality. It is also a sustainability benchmark, thanks to the 63,000 square meters of tropical and subtropical vegetation, which has led to the development of its own microclimate, featuring various species of palm trees, dragon trees, Indian laurel trees, Ficus Canariensis, flamboyant trees, jacarandas, fruit trees, cacti, and various European plants.
51 Drownings So Far This Year (To Date)
News from Tenerife 2 (5)
In the Canary Islands, 51 drownings have been recorded between January and September this year, a 9% decrease compared to the same period in 2023.
During the ninth month, 13 people were involved in accidents in ocean swimming zones. Four victims died due to drowning, two swimmers were found in critical condition, and five were in moderate condition. Two drowning victims were rescued.
The average monthly death toll this year remains at six people.
So far, 143 people have been involved in drowning incidents. This is a 16% decrease compared to 2023, when there were 171 cases. In the first nine months of 2024, 51 drownings were fatal, seven people were found in critical condition, 13 suffered severe injuries, and 44 victims had moderate injuries. Twelve minors were involved, and 16 people were rescued from certain death.
By the end of September, 63% of the deceased were identified as foreigners: German (three); British (one); French (one); American (one); Chinese (one); Czech (one); Moroccan (one); Spanish (six); unspecified foreigner (one), and 35 victims had unknown nationalities.
Of those who drowned during this period, 37% were adults (19), 35% (18) were over 60 years old, 24% (12) were of unknown age, and 4% were minors (2). Men accounted for 75% of the fatalities (38), while 25% (13) were women.
Regarding the activities being performed, 68% of the deceased were swimming (35), and 16% (eight) were in the ‘other’ category. Divers accounted for 8% (four), fishers 6% (three), and aquatic athletes 2% (one).
Tenerife recorded the highest number of drownings (15), followed by Gran Canaria (14), Fuerteventura (9), Lanzarote (8), La Palma (3), and La Gomera (2). No drownings were registered on El Hierro or La Graciosa.
Beaches continue to be the locations with the highest drowning death rates (54%), followed by harbors and coastal areas (26%) and pools and natural swimming areas (10%). Sixty-five percent of drowning deaths occurred in the evening, 25% in the morning, 8% at night, and 2% at unspecified times.
These events and developments significantly impact life in Tenerife and highlight the diversity of challenges, developments, and opportunities the island faces.
Guy Devos © Photography
News from Tenerife 2 ©
Interested in Tenerife?
Subscribe to our newsletter and always stay informed about the news on Tenerife.
Enter your first name and a valid email address below. Then click on Subscribe.
