No one doubts that the new Island Plan of Lanzarote (PIOL) requires broad consensus. To achieve this, it is necessary to identify and, if necessary, share and agree on its basic contents. Among them, and in view of the imminent debate that is about to arrive, I underline three: reinforce the island vision, reconvert the tourist offer and diversify the economy.
In recent years, the municipal vision has dominated the island scenario to the detriment of an overall vision. Thus, for example, different municipalities yearn for the Congress Palace, the new Sports City or the University Campus. Let the legitimacy of these aspirations be clear, but we will go further if we complement them with an island vision. We have to agree on what things to do, with island transcendence and in what places. We need to add the municipal to the island, and not the other way around, so that we all feel part of the process. In this matter, the new PIOL can and should clarify the map of island infrastructures and equipment, with the agreement of the municipalities and the maxim of interterritorial solidarity. Together we are stronger, simply.
Secondly, if the 1991 PIOL recognized the tourist phenomenon and its effects, the Revision of the PIOL in processing must lay the foundations for the beginning of a transformation process of the tourism industry. Recently, the president of AC Hotels by Marriots, Antonio Catalán, stated in reference to Lanzarote: "This island receives 2 million tourists a year, however there is 30% unemployment, they must be doing something wrong" (inaugural session Global South Forum 2014)*. Time continues to prove him right, since after having widely exceeded 2 million visitors in 2014, unemployment and job insecurity remain unbearable (31.26 percent unemployment according to the EPA corresponding to the second quarter of 2015). For this reason, the new PIOL must help us overcome this reality. To do this, it is essential to qualify the offer and the tourist experience, with the aim of increasing the spending at the destination of those who visit us.
Only with a higher quality offer, for which more is paid, will it be possible to increase employment and improve its conditions. Let us remember that the expenditure per tourist and day in Lanzarote is below the Canarian average (121 € compared to 127 €) and that most of the expenditure occurs in the country of origin, since only 29.8 percent of the expenditure is made on the island**.
Some will say that part of the precariousness and unemployment is due to the abuse of some employers. Without generalizing, I do not doubt that some are taking advantage, but, against these cases, there is only inspection, sanction and social reproach. What I maintain is that with menus on the beachfront for only 9.95 €, or with a week of vacation paid at a bargain price, it is difficult to increase the staff or improve working conditions.
This situation must be reversed, which implies a transformation of many of the tourist businesses and the urban environments where they develop. This will require time and the use of resources, both private in the renovation of the old and obsolete accommodation plant and related businesses; as public in the qualification of the tourist space.
In addition, the need to influence the reduction of the island's accommodation ceiling cannot be ignored, continuing with the policy of reducing the potential number of tourist beds: less, but of higher quality. This would help the conversion process stated, and it seems that there is room. How much? It will depend on how ambitious we are and how willing we are, but the recent history of the island shows us that with vision, ambition and enthusiasm it is possible to make collective dreams come true.
Finally, it is clear that the island's economy pivots on tourism and will continue to do so in the coming decades. Our island has unparalleled attractions and we cannot renounce an industry with such potential, because we also know how to do many things well in this sector. However, from a realistic point of view, it seems necessary to facilitate that economic activities linked to the primary sector and renewable energies, at least, develop in the coming years. Both for the employment opportunities they generate, as for the maintenance of the landscape or the sustainability of the environment.
In these issues, the new PIOL must offer answers identifying the appropriate spaces for the development of such activities, with the ambition of those who have an accumulated delay of decades and want to honor the award of Biosphere Reserve.
Many other questions and aspirations must contain the new PIOL, without a doubt. Let's put them on the table, argue, debate and agree.
*https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMDHB_Mf5Tw, inaugural session Global South by Antonio Catalán.
**Island Issues Survey 2014 of the Data Center, Cabildo de Lanzarote.
By Marcos Bergaz, PSOE councilor in the Cabildo