News from Tenerife (#35) is published every week 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 is a synthesis of several facts, actions, and occurrences that are too short to be published as a full-fledged article.
Passengers in May 2025
News from Tenerife #35/1
Canary Island airports exceeded 4.1 million passengers in May 2025. Domestic traffic grew by 5.7% and international traffic by 3.4% compared to the same month in 2024. The airports of the Canary archipelago recorded a total of 4,109,173 passengers in May 2025, representing an increase of 4.4% compared to the same month the previous year, according to data published by AENA.
Of that total, 4,094,585 travellers used scheduled commercial flights. Within this group, 1,927,859 passengers were on domestic flights, reflecting a growth of 5.7% compared to May 2024. Regarding international flights, 2,166,726 passengers were counted, amounting to an increase of 3.4%. During the same month, 38,353 aircraft movements were processed (+4.2%) and 2,712 tonnes of cargo were transported, a slight decrease of 0.9% compared to the same period last year.
Tenerife was the island with the highest air traffic in May, combining the figures from its two airports: Tenerife South recorded 986,014 passengers (+1%) and Tenerife North – Ciudad de La Laguna reached 612,573 passengers (+6.6%), totalling 1,598,587 travellers. Next was Gran Canaria, whose airport handled 1,157,213 passengers, making it the busiest individual facility of the month, with a rise of 5.7%.
134 Social Housing Units in the South of Tenerife
News from Tenerife #35/2
The Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Mobility of the Canary Islands Government has classified the tender procedure for the construction of 134 publicly subsidised social housing units in Tenerife as urgent. The project, to be carried out by the Instituto Canario de la Vivienda, involves three groups of housing units distributed across the municipalities of Arona, Adeje, and Guía de Isora.
This construction is part of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan and is funded by the European Next Generation EU programme. The execution falls under Decree Law 1/2024 of 19 February, which allows for halving the timeframes for tendering, awarding, and formalising contracts.
Antonio Ortega, director of the Instituto Canario de la Vivienda (ICAVI), emphasised that this is the first housing project on the island of Tenerife to be carried out within the budget of the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism (MRR), an instrument of the EU’s Next Generation programme set up in response to the COVID-19 crisis and active until 2026. The regional government reiterated that the Canary Islands administration continues to work towards addressing the housing emergency, as stated in the Canary Islands Housing Plan 2020–2025, aiming to promote the construction of social housing.
In this context, the first batch of works includes the construction of 59 homes and 59 parking spaces on the Marazul plot, located on Calle Astrón, in the municipality of Arona. The second group comprises 51 homes with associated parking on plots 3A and 3B in Armeñime, between the streets Antonio Machado, Pedro García Cabrera, and Miguel Hernández, in Adeje. Finally, the third group includes 24 homes and 24 garages on a plot on Calle Norte, in the municipality of Guía de Isora.
Protest Against Luxury Tourism Project Continues
News from Tenerife #35/3
Around 150 people, according to the platform organisation Salvar El Puertito, gathered on Saturday at the entrance of the Baobab Suites hotel, owned by businessman Filip Hoste, to demand the halt of the tourism project Cuna del Alma, which is being developed by the same promoter. The explicit aim of the protest was to expose the many irregularities associated with the project to hotel guests, so they would be informed of the situation and choose not to stay in businesses that actively contribute to the destruction of the island.
Cuna del Alma is a project for the construction of 420 luxury villas in El Puertito de Adeje, located between two protected natural areas and in a zone of National Geological Interest. The demonstration took place around the hotel and ended at the offices of Andreas & Partners, another company owned by Filip Hoste, which also promotes luxury villas in El Puertito de Adeje. The organisers stated during the protest that the actions would continue until the authorities definitively halt this illegal megaproject.
The activist group claims that the environmental impact report failed to disclose more than ten protected plant species, and that the biologist who drafted the report, Rosendo López, simultaneously served as director of the environmental department of the municipality of Adeje. They also point out that the project lacks a formal environmental impact assessment and denounce the irregular expropriation of the Galindo family’s warehouse, which is part of the Historical Heritage of El Puertito.
The organisers also criticised the fact that the fine imposed on the promoters of Cuna del Alma for the deliberate and irreversible destruction of an archaeological site was reduced from €600,000 to €228,000. Following the historic protest of 18 March, which brought together hundreds of thousands of people across the Canary Islands, mainland Spain, and Germany, the actions have not ceased. Demonstrations have taken place against wastewater discharges, against Cuna del Alma, and against overcrowding in the Teide National Park. “We will not stop,” said the organisation.
Water Reserves at 68% Capacity
News from Tenerife #35/4
The Cabildo of Tenerife does not expect water restrictions this summer: water reservoirs are at 68% capacity. According to the island administration, the supply has increased by 1.7 million cubic metres compared to 2024, ensuring guaranteed availability.
The Mesa Insular de la Sequía, chaired by the Cabildo of Tenerife, held its seventh meeting on Friday, 13 June, to assess the island’s water situation. During the session, it was noted that the reservoirs are currently at 68.2% of their capacity, compared to just 39.8% in 2024. “This significantly reduces the risk of water restrictions for domestic use and agriculture across the various municipalities,” the Cabildo stated in an official communiqué.
Blanca Pérez, Councillor for Natural Environment, emphasised that the storage capacity for summer 2025 has increased significantly—from 39.8% last year to 68.2% this year. This represents an increase of 1.7 million cubic metres in reserves, thereby guaranteeing supply. Thanks to delivered volumes—around 27,000 cubic metres—and the rainfall in March and April, the outlook for summer is reasonably positive. Moreover, no municipality on the island has yet contacted the Consejo Insular de Aguas de Tenerife with a request for additional water provision this summer.
The islands also recorded the wettest spring of the 21st century, with twice the usual amount of rainfall—a crucial factor in replenishing the water reserves.
Finally, the councillor announced that the tendering process for the new EDAR (wastewater treatment plant) in La Orotava has already begun. This strategic infrastructure, in combination with a future desalination plant, pressure pipelines, and tertiary treatment phase, will make it possible to send treated, high-quality water to the balsa de la Cruz Santa. From there, the reclaimed water can be transported further for agricultural use as far as Icod de los Vinos.
Three Months After the Relocation of the Rastro in Santa Cruz
News from Tenerife #35/5
This weekend marks exactly three months since the Rastro of Santa Cruz de Tenerife reopened at its new location on Avenida Marítima. A quarter that gave market traders time to settle in, amid both praise and criticism, but which many now say has not only dispelled initial doubts but can even be considered a success.
Carmen Tejera, president of the Rastro, provided an optimistic yet realistic assessment of the present and future of this iconic Sunday market. Despite the challenges of recent years – caused by the pandemic, the mandatory relocation, and the conflict with the city council – Tejera stressed that the Rastro is functioning well and that the public has responded positively.
One of the main concerns among vendors is the number of vacant stalls. Many have withdrawn because they are no longer involved—some have passed away or have ceased trading and officially informed the municipality. The president advocates for an orderly redistribution of these vacant spaces: “Those stalls should be reassigned through a lottery or another method the city council deems appropriate. When people come to the market and see many empty spots, they think it’s not worthwhile, which isn’t true.”
According to Tejera, it is essential to further improve the market infrastructure. Vendors are asking for shade, trees, canopies, and, above all, that basic facilities such as toilets be maintained. That’s not easy, as no one is present for six hours straight to monitor who enters and leaves. She also suggests expanding the market offering with additional activities: something for children, such as inflatable bouncy castles. The idea of a stage for local artists is also being considered. Let them perform for passersby. It seems like a feasible idea.
These events and developments have a significant impact on life in Tenerife, highlighting the diverse challenges, progress, and opportunities faced by the island.
Unknown © Photography
News from Tenerife #35 ©
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