Betancort meets with the Lanzarote Tourism Federation to analyze the demands of the sector

The president of the Cabildo of Lanzarote and counselor of SPEL Turismo-Lanzarote announces the call for Sectoral Work Tables as a preliminary step to achieving common objectives between public and private institutions

September 14 2023 (16:07 WEST)
Updated in September 14 2023 (16:44 WEST)
Meeting of the President of the Cabildo, Oswaldo Betancort, with the board of directors of the Lanzarote Tourist Federation (FTL). Photo: Cabildo de Lanzarote.
Meeting of the President of the Cabildo, Oswaldo Betancort, with the board of directors of the Lanzarote Tourist Federation (FTL). Photo: Cabildo de Lanzarote.

The president of the Cabildo of Lanzarote and counselor of SPEL Turismo-Lanzarote, Oswaldo Betancort, met last Tuesday at the institution's headquarters with the board of directors of the Lanzarote Tourism Federation (FTL) to analyze the demands raised by the sector.

The meeting, which was also attended by the CEO of the Society for the Promotion of Foreign Affairs of Lanzarote, Héctor Fernández, was attended by the president of the FTL, Susana Pérez, the two vice presidents, Francisco Martínez and Esther Cabrera, as well as the top managers of the sectoral associations integrated in this federation that brings together the entire value chain of the tourism industry.

The president of the Cabildo thanked the presence of the 9 tourism associations that make up the FTL: Tourist accommodation (Asolan), Hospitality and Restoration (Hostelan), Association of Travel Agencies and Tour Operators, Assoc. Leisure, Active Tourism, Association of Diving Schools and Centers (Buco), Discretionary Transport (Astratur), Rent a Car (Aserent), Official Tourism Guides (APIT) and Nautical Tourism (Canarinautic).

Oswaldo Betancort highlighted after this first meeting, the good harmony that exists with the tourism sector of the Island. "It has been a very constructive meeting and both parties have left satisfied with the meeting with a long list of objectives and common places."

Among the many issues addressed, business representatives raised the problem of intrusion in tourism activity, especially tourist rentals, private vehicle rentals, excursions and tourist activities without the relevant authorizations in this regard, have requested the involvement of the Cabildo to demand more inspections from the Government of the Canary Islands with these establishments.

Similarly, the same dilemma affects the sector of Official Tourism Guides, which has also expressed its concern about the proliferation of people dedicated to this segment who do not meet the legal requirements.

In this regard, the president of the Cabildo pledged to convene periodic meetings with the FTL. "Given that very diverse issues have been addressed, I have expressed my intention to follow up on all the issues raised and that I will transfer these concerns to the councilors with competences in the matter." "We have also agreed to convene Sectoral Work Tables as a preliminary step," announced Betancort.

Another issue raised by the Tourism Federation is the need to invest and provide better infrastructure to the CIFP Zonzamas and make this center the flagship of Vocational Training in the Canary Islands, in addition to promoting and promoting Dual Vocational Training and Concerted Vocational Training, to improve employability rates in Lanzarote and La Graciosa.

Planning, energy and water

 

The FTL wanted to know firsthand the steps that the new government of the Cabildo of Lanzarote is taking in terms of territorial planning, on the plans pending approval, and on the allegations to the PTCAN, Energy Transition Plan of the Canary Islands, and the PROAC, Regional Plan for the Management of Aquaculture in the Canary Islands.

Likewise, the concern for the water shortage on the island and the 2023-2027 Investment Plan have been another of the issues that the tourism business community wanted to know from the president of the Island Corporation. The tourism employers have shown the same concern with electric mobility and the insufficient network of existing charging points.

Issues such as the need to improve the trail route, allowing interpretive visits by small tourist groups and guided by professionals in the sector, reinforcing the signage of these, will also have a specific working table dedicated to active tourism, where issues related to the environment and the transport of this activity will be addressed.

The lack of housing on the Island, which also affects workers in the sector, and the management of certain waste, such as selective or other special waste, were also some of the issues raised to the president of the Cabildo of Lanzarote. All of them will be addressed in the next monographic meetings between the highest island institution and the tourism sector.

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