The Minister of Employment and Tourism, Jéssica de León (PP), acknowledged this Thursday that Morocco is a tourist competitor for the Canary Islands, although it does not compete on prices, but added that we must be alert to the signs and the impact of announcements and protests that take place on the islands.
In a parliamentary committee, and in response to the Popular group's deputy David Morales, the minister indicated that the 18 million tourists that the Canary Islands has "are not on the payroll", so we must "earn them by working hard".
The minister stated that the increase in investment by the Kingdom of Morocco in the tourism sector is "notorious", as the country is aiming for the next World Cup and is positioning itself in prices with which the Canary Islands cannot compete.
The minister commented that Morocco could open its market in winter, although its geographical position is different and its climatology is worse than that of the archipelago, and recalled that some tour operators have increased their air routes with that country.
Jéssica de León said that the Canary Islands has advantages such as being able to choose quality clients, which does not only mean prices, but also offering security, local products and respect for the environment.
The Popular group's deputy had asked the minister if the boost that UN Tourism and the United States are giving to the Kingdom of Morocco through various tourism initiatives and investments could hinder the competitiveness of the Canary Islands in its traditional issuing markets.
David Morales indicated that Morocco is the most visited African country by tourists, and warned of the risks that putting obstacles to tourism in the Canary Islands could entail.
Regarding other issues discussed in the committee, the Minister of Employment and Tourism, Jéssica de León, highlighted that the Canary Islands Institute for Occupational Safety (Icasel) is a reference, and commented that its 43 workers are led by a person who could be retired but works on something that many people have not wanted to carry out.
Manuals have been prepared at Icasel on measures to alleviate workloads and measures to help room attendants, the minister indicated in response to the deputy of the Nationalist group (CC) Francisco Linares, who requested recognition for this institute, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary.
The deputy of the Nationalist group (CC) Francisco Linares underlined the work carried out by Icasel in matters as important as safety and occupational training, as well as the fact that its activity is "vertiginous".
In response to the deputy of the Socialist group Marcos Bergaz regarding the forecast to expand the number of establishments of Hotel Schools of the Canary Islands (Hecansa), the minister pointed out that the priority is to provide workers with a collective agreement, since they do not have one after 14 years in operation.
She also highlighted the need to reform the centers of Santa Brígida (Gran Canaria) and Santa Cruz de Tenerife because they have not changed for twelve years, and also pointed out that work is being done to decentralize the training work of Hecansa and thereby reach all the islands.
The deputy of the Socialist group Marcos Bergaz indicated that Hecansa, created in 1989, is one of the "jewels" of the islands' tourism sector, and considered that Lanzarote could be provided with a training center.
Next, the deputy of Vox Paula Jover questioned the minister about the focus of the new tourism law that will replace the 1995 law in terms of content and its processing, to which Jéssica de León said that the objective is that, first of all, there is a debate on a law that will mark the future.
The deputy of Vox Paula Jover expressed her concern about the tourism policies of the Canary Islands Government in recent years, as she criticized issues such as the "decretazo" on rental housing and the possibility of implementing taxes and ecotaxes.
The minister asked Vox to attend the debate tables and also present its model of tourism law, and added that the PP shares many issues of the economic field with Jover's party.
The deputy of Agrupación Socialista Gomera (ASG) Jesús Ramos asked about the plans for excellence and tourist revitalization that are being developed, to which the minister responded that it is necessary to have a more global vision of the destination.
And the deputy of Nueva Canarias-Bloque Canarista (NC-BC) Natalia Santana asked about measures to prevent the brain drain of young talent that occurs in the Canary Islands incessantly, due to the lack of job opportunities.
The minister acknowledged that the high rate of youth unemployment is a drama, although it has been reduced since the previous legislature, added Jéssica de León, who raised the need to make the hospitality sector more attractive to young people.
