The proliferation of campers in Tenerife, especially in the south of the island, is the result of the rising trend in vacation spending during the Easter Week – La Semana Santa – which is very clearly on the rise.
In this paradise for holidaymakers, an unexpected trend is emerging: a rapid growth of camper tourism. This development, once hailed as a symbol of freedom and adventure, now tends towards oversaturation. Parking spaces and picturesque locations are becoming overcrowded, putting the balance between tourism and conservation under pressure.
This article sheds light on this issue, explores the consequences for the island and the community, and wonders when enough becomes too much. We delve deeper into the camper culture in Tenerife, where the boundaries between freedom and nuisance blur.
Lack of Facilities
In some cases, they occupy protected natural areas, parking spaces unsuitable for their size, and moreover, many towns on the island lack sufficient specific public or private grounds. The proliferation of campers and motorhomes in the south of Tenerife has led Arona to draft a regulation to regulate them.
During the Easter week – when the whole island is on the move – the advance is unstoppable. The presence of homes on wheels is overwhelming. It seems everyone wants to experience this form of tourism, which can be detrimental, especially since they occupy protected natural areas in some cases, stand in parking spaces unsuitable for their size, and many locations lack adapted parking space for campers and motorhomes.
Solutions
Municipalities like Los Silos, with an attractive coastline, numerous pools, and very alternative bathing areas ideal for camper users, are waiting for this island regulation. Other municipalities are not waiting and are taking action. This is the case in Granadilla de Abona, which has announced that the ‘camping’ that has arisen near La Tejita beach, which is also a protected area, will be ‘dismantled’.
Other municipalities go further, as in the case of Arona, and are committed to adopting a municipal regulation to regulate this phenomenon. There will be pitches for these traveling mobiles, such as in Puerto de la Cruz. In the previous term, numerous parking spaces for these vehicles were demarcated on the forecourt of the quay, with showers, toilets, and other services for which the camper user pays a (relatively) modest daily price.
Various Reasons
The regional government passes the hot potato to the municipalities. And this is what the Arona town council is currently working on, with the goal of approving a local text as soon as possible, after which the island government – the Cabildo de Tenerife – can generalize these guidelines for all municipalities.
The proliferation of campers and motorhomes occurs especially during the Easter period, the summer months, the end-of-year period, and during (extended) weekends. Moreover, due to a lack of affordable rental properties, there is an increase in people living permanently in their vehicle or van.
This is also the case in Costa del Silencio (Las Galletas), where 50 people have set up an improvised camp with vans and huts after being forcibly evicted from the apartment building. They were staying there illegally, and the building must be demolished for safety reasons.
More TRIVIA can be read [HERE]
Guy Devos © Photography
The proliferation of campers in Tenerife ©
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