The Socialist Parliamentary Group presented this Wednesday in the Plenary of the Regional Chamber a motion to request the implementation of measures that contribute to better redistribute the wealth generated by the tourism sector in the islands, such as the implementation of a tourism tax that serves as a tool for the Canary Islands to have a more just and sustainable economic and social model. However, this measure has been rejected by the groups that support the regional government, the Canarian Coalition, the Popular Party, the Gomera Socialist Group and AHI, as well as the far-right formation Vox.
The Treasury spokesperson for the Socialist Group, Manuel Hernández, spoke in the Plenary to defend this motion, rejected by the political groups that support the Canarian Government, where he stated that it is not only an economic issue, but a matter of a model of society. "Either we redistribute wealth, or we will continue to build a paradise for a few on the backs of many," Hernández continues.
Specifically, the Socialist Group advocates for the application of a tourism tax that taxes the stays of non-resident visitors with progressive and final criteria, without prejudice to it being modulated according to island realities.
The socialist deputy warned that in the Canary Islands there is no lack of wealth, but justice, and recalled the "historic" strike called by the hospitality sector in the islands for this Easter. "We cannot look the other way, as some intend, while a tourism model that generates more and more wealth is sharpened, but that does not revert to the social majority of our islands."
"It is not fair and, therefore, it is not acceptable, that the historical record figures for the tourism sector do not translate into better conditions and a higher quality of life for the workers of our land," he added.
In this sense, he highlighted the data "that reflect this reality", such as the fact that the Canary Islands received almost 18 million tourists in 2024 compared to just over 15 million in 2019, which resulted in a turnover of 24,000 million euros, 50% more than in 2019.
He also mentioned the income per available room, which is the main standard of the hotel sector to measure its financial performance, which reached its historical maximum in February 2025: 134.75 euros per night, a figure that represents a growth of 55.1% in the last four years.
According to Hernández, compared to this business boom, the social contrast is "heartbreaking", since the Canary Islands leads the national ranking of lowest salaries; the price of rent has risen more than 22% in just one year, and home ownership has become 10.4% more expensive.
The socialist deputy criticized the promises of the Canarian Government to implement measures in this regard, and highlighted that the president of the Canary Islands himself recognized the problem of wealth redistribution generated by the tourism sector in the last Debate on the State of the Nation without any measures having been taken in this regard.
"Empty words that have not been accompanied by measures, and it is normal because linking the salary increase to productivity is like denying that increase, and because raising the IGIC on tourist stays not only contradicts what was promised to the voters, but would end up being paid by all Canarian citizens."
However, he recalled that the Socialist Group has been demanding progressive fiscal measures to comply with the Statute of Autonomy of the Canary Islands itself, which obliges public authorities to equitably redistribute wealth according to criteria of social justice, as well as to promote sustainable tourism.
