The Federation of Small and Medium-Sized Business Owners of the Canary Islands (Felapyme) expresses its rejection of the recent campaigns and statements that generally question the activity of the camel sector in Lanzarote.
Felapyme considers that traditional camel rides are part of the economic, cultural, and tourist fabric of the island of Lanzarote, and constitute an activity that has contributed for decades to the generation of employment and the maintenance of numerous families.
The business organization emphasizes that "any debate about the future of this activity must be carried out with rigor, institutional respect, and knowledge of the socioeconomic reality of the sector, avoiding messages that could unjustifiably harm the workers and small businesses involved".
Likewise, Felapyme warns about the "negative consequences that could derive from hasty decisions or pressure campaigns without clear transition alternatives, both for local employment and for the island's tourism structure".
The federation defends that the sector must continue advancing in continuous improvements in animal welfare and sustainability, "as has already been done, but without criminalizing an activity that is part of the living heritage of the island".
In the same way, Felapyme highlights the importance of the preservation of the camel herd as zoocultural heritage and the preservation of the native breed historically linked to the territory, underscoring its cultural, educational value and its role in the identity of Lanzarote.
Finally, Felapyme makes a call for dialogue between administrations, tourism sector and social agents, with the aim of guaranteeing coexistence between tradition, you economic development and new social sensitivities in Lanzarote.
