The trade union Comisiones Obreras (CCOO) Canarias has made the initial contributions to the public consultation presented by the Ministry of Tourism for the modernization and modification of the Tourism Planning Law.
CCOO's proposals are aimed at "alleviating the pressures that mass tourism is generating on Canarian society and the environment of the islands," explain from the union.
The first of their demands is that studies be developed to have all the data available and thus adjust the new law to the current reality.
Specifically, they request a study of the limit carrying capacity that the islands have in terms of tourism.
"We understand that the territory is exceeded and we need to do the appropriate study to start from the reality that society lives," they explain.
Likewise, they request a study of the "impact that a tourist tax could have on the islands, and that with the relevant data, it be explained to the Canarian population why millions of euros are no longer being collected that could directly benefit them," they indicate.
In addition, among others, they ask for a third study that evaluates "the damage that can be caused, socially and ecologically, by continuing with the same type of mass tourism."
Long-term Social Pact
The union requests that these analyses be carried out within the framework of "an open social dialogue table, where social and ecological organizations, the majority unions and employers' associations, representatives of the public universities of the Canary Islands and the Government of the Canary Islands itself must be represented."
"As a declaration of intent," continues the CCOO statement, "we request a Social, Political and Economic Pact of mandatory compliance for future governments to avoid short-term policies that do not prioritize the population."
Among the specific measures, the union proposes the "limitation of residential land for tourist use, the inclusion of residential land in tourist land and in neighboring municipalities to avoid the exclusion of the Canarian population from these areas and guarantee proximity to jobs."
Likewise, they propose to mark "priorities of water use when water emergencies are declared in the islands, of course putting the interests of the population before the tourist interests."
"We cannot allow water cuts to exist in towns on the islands while the hotel sector and related activities are not affected. We ask that accommodation places be regulated and obliged to be self-sufficient energetically."
A tourist tax for environmental and social purposes
With respect to the tourist tax, they defend its implementation to recover and maintain "the damaged natural spaces," as well as to "social benefits such as education, housing, health, that can improve the living conditions of the Canarian population.
With regard to employment, CCOO advocates for a Law that sets "guidelines to provide quality employment within the sector. It should be promoted and prioritized in a Regional Sectoral Agreement that equalizes the working conditions of both provinces."
The union also denounces that "there cannot be 5-star Grand Luxury hotels that pay as 4-star hotels, when they generate much more benefits."