The Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce of the Government of the Canary Islands has agreed this Wednesday, after a meeting with the Canarian business associations, to initiate the process for the repeal of the legal text that establishes that in order to access tourist accommodation establishments on the Islands, it is necessary to prove "being free of Covid-19", either with a diagnostic test, with the vaccination certificate or having passed the disease or with a responsible declaration of not having left the islands in the 15 days prior to staying, in the case of Canarian residents. That is, according to the Ministry, the decree law of extraordinary measures in tourism matters that was approved to face the effects of the health and economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The regional minister, Yaiza Castilla, held a meeting this morning with the president and presidents of the four Canarian tourism associations, such as Susana Pérez, of the Lanzarote Tourism Federation and Asolán; Antonio Hormiga, of the Fuerteventura Tourist Business Association; Jorge Marichal, of the Hotel and Extra-Hotel Association of Tenerife, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro (Ashotel); and José María Mañaricúa, of the Federation of Hospitality and Tourism Businessmen of Las Palmas, to "submit to their consideration and that of their associates the convenience of urging the Government to repeal this Decree-Law 17/2020, of October 29".
In the proposal, Yaiza Castilla and the four business representatives have agreed that “the progress of vaccination in Europe and the Canary Islands, as well as the existence of a control procedure for foreign travelers at airports against the pandemic and for which, likewise, a vaccination certificate or Covid diagnostic test with a negative result is required, makes it necessary to eliminate the existing double control, at the airport and accommodation, and relax the measures established in tourist establishments”. A measure that, she adds, will help strengthen the image of the Canary Islands “as a tourist destination and guarantor of high standards of health protection for its visitors”, according to the minister.
This decree law approved by the Government and validated by the Parliament of the Canary Islands, at the joint proposal of the Ministries of Public Administrations, Justice and Security, Health and Tourism, Industry and Commerce, “has helped to guarantee the proper protection of the health of its users, as well as workers, and contribute to minimizing situations of low tourist demand due to fear of epidemiological outbreaks”, Yaiza Castilla pointed out, adding that, “now, fortunately, the conditions are different and there are greater means of protection, such as vaccination”.
To start the process of repealing the so-called Decree-Law, the minister adds that “she is going to urge the approval of said act within the Governing Council so that it can then be validated by Parliament”.
“The idea is that the accommodation establishments of the islands no longer have to deal with this procedure with the start of the high winter season in the coming month of November, when a greater influx of customers is expected”, says Yaiza Castilla.
