Councilor Nuria Acuña, among many other responsibilities, is responsible for tourism and commerce in the Haría City Council.
In an interview with the radio program Más de Uno Gourmet, she explains the improvements she has planned for the Saturday market, announces the launch of a mobile application that will include all the businesses in the municipality, and regrets that the water supply problems in the north do not allow for greater agricultural production.
- How did you find the Haría market since you joined the position?
When I arrived, I was a little afraid because one thing is to see the market and walk through it, which is a luxury, on a Saturday morning in that square that is spectacular, and another is that everyone depends on you and that you are the one who makes it work.
The best thing was the welcome from the artisans, it was wonderful. They welcomed me from minute zero. I have a very good relationship with them. The first thing when arriving at the position was to meet with everyone. Since then, every time we have had to close the square for some other activity, we have reached a consensus.
- What kind of products can we find in the Haría market?
In the market you can find fruit, vegetables, cheese, handmade sweets, different types of bread, desserts...
As for crafts, there is everything from ceramics to products made with cochineal and decorative items with paint... Everything.
"We are working to change the tents, update them and modernize them with the idea that they will be ready for San Juan. We want them to be visually unified so that the market is more attractive than it already is"
- How could people be encouraged to grow more products?
It is quite complicated because Haría is one of the municipalities where we have the most water shortage. It is a constant problem. I see it myself at home. My father has a small farm and they only open the water for him once or twice a week.
- The problem of water in Haría is not only in the countryside, but also in private homes...
We don't have water every day, not even in our homes. I live in Punta Mujeres and many days we don't have water. I live alone and I notice it less, but in families where there are several members, it is much more noticeable.
We have to find solutions, because we cannot live like this, nor can our agriculture prosper.
- Do you have any measures in mind to promote the market?
We are working to change the tents, update them and modernize them with the idea that they will be ready for San Juan. We want them to be visually unified so that the market is more attractive than it already is.
I am also thinking about how to unite the Saturday market in the square with the food market, where there are also homemade sweets, a biological store, as well as a butcher shop, fishmonger and a prepared food store.
- Is there any new initiative to promote the market, such as the bus tours organized by La Villa?
At the moment we do not have arranged excursions, but I am in talks with different car rental companies, so that they include a leaflet advertising the market with the map of the company that rents the car.
Work is also being done to do international advertising in places that have direct flights with Lanzarote not only to promote the market, but the entire municipality.
- What is the tourist who stays in Haría like?
It is a much quieter tourism. You cannot exactly define an age criterion because you can find quite a diversity, but it is a tourism that comes looking for other things. It is not the typical beach and sun tourism, but rather seeks hiking, gastronomy, walking through a small town and going unnoticed...
In Punta Mujeres, for example, you often see people passing by, but they are very independent. It is not until you stop at a restaurant or a bar in the area that you realize how many people there are in the town or in the municipality in general.
"We are preparing an application for mobile networks in which all the merchants of the municipality will be present"
- It is a tourist who consumes...
Yes, it is a tourist who consumes throughout the municipality, and who also participates. They not only come on vacation and repeat, but many are immersed in all kinds of cultural events.
In the Haría viewpoint we have done four concerts, one each month, in October, November, December, and January. It was amazing the number of tourists who participated. Many were passing through and had found out, but there were also many others who live in our municipality, have integrated and participate in all activities.
- What are your plans for the future to support the gastronomy of the municipality?
Going to eat in Haría is the best. We have all kinds of restaurants. From the most exquisite, perhaps like Tacande, to the gastronomy of a lifetime, from socio-cultural centers, from Teleclubs, where you can find everything: meats, fish and products from km 0.
From the City Council we are preparing an application for mobile networks in which all the merchants of the municipality will be present, including the restaurateurs. Thus, any visitor who is in the area and wants to find a restaurant in the municipality can do so. You can search by keyword. That is, write for example 'vieja' and all the restaurants that serve that type of fish will appear.
