The solution to the queues that form at the entrance to Timanfaya could arrive in just one month. At least this is the intention of the mayor of Tinajo, Jesús Machín, who assures that during the next few weeks he will pull all the strings so that his proposal for the parking lot to be located on the Los Dolores esplanade works as a pilot experience once the celebration ends next September.
In order to make this project a reality, the mayor of Tinajo will need the support of other institutions. Firstly, the Island Council, which, according to Jesús Machín, would have to increase the number of buses that travel from Los Dolores to Montañas de Fuego. For this reason, he makes a public appeal for the First Institution to collaborate in this project.
Compensate non-tourist municipalities
"I believe that if the Cabildo wants to compensate the municipalities that have not been able to develop touristically like Tinajo, now it has the opportunity to compensate it to economically reactivate the municipality", explained Jesús Machín. In fact, in his attempt to get support from the First Corporation, the mayor recently held a meeting with the Councilor for Tourist Centers, Pedro San Ginés. Regarding this meeting, Jesús Machín explained: "They tell me that it is not as viable as I see it, but I believe that it is viable, what happens is that resources have to be put in".
The project
The proposal of the Tinajo City Council is that since the visitor center is located within the natural park and making the building would affect both the volcano and the landscape, Jesús Machín considers that the best location would be the Los Dolores esplanade, a place that, according to the mayor, could house up to 5,000 vehicles.
In addition, it would have the advantage, according to the mayor, that the buses would depart from this place, so tourists could be told the story of the miracle of the Virgen de Los Dolores who, according to legend, stopped the lava from the volcano from continuing to advance and destroy the town, as well as the functions of the visitor center before entering the park's route itself. Furthermore, if the installation were opened, it would be used to beautify the place.
Reactivate the economy
With this plan, the Tinajo City Council could reactivate the municipality's economy. For this, according to Jesús Machín, they have already commissioned a project to have signs "so that tourists know where they can eat or get to know the wines of our municipality". In addition, a vegetable market would be located on the esplanade, which visitors could enjoy before or after taking the bus tour of the Timanfaya Natural Park.
