On January 29, the proposal for the initial approval of the new ordinance of activities on public roads was presented to the Plenary of the Arrecife City Council. The main novelty of this document is the introduction of a specific section that regulates audiovisual events.
Although it may seem like a minor contribution, it does contribute to reflecting on the enormous potential that our island has, and always had, in multiple sectors.
It is no secret that Lanzarote is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world due to the beauty and uniqueness of its landscape, but also due to the added value of its climate, gastronomy, culture and folklore. Until a year ago, however, it was impossible to imagine that we would see the island without a single tourist: the coronavirus pandemic has suddenly brought us back to reality, and the reality is that tourism cannot be the only source of Lanzarote's economy. And although there has always been a debate about the need to differentiate the economic activities of our territory, it is now urgent and unavoidable to launch development channels for new industries.
The audiovisual sector undoubtedly offers a very interesting potential source of income. For years, Lanzarote has captivated film producers, advertisers, photographers and fashion designers. Every time they choose our island for one of their catalogs, spots or films, a number of complementary professionals are automatically set in motion, such as stylists, makeup artists, model agencies, catering, lighting and sound companies and a long etcetera that means economy for the island. In the neighboring island of Fuerteventura they are even debating the creation of a fixed structure for this type of industry, a sign that this is a trend that we cannot ignore and let escape.
And speaking of trends, once again, thanks to or because of (depending on how you analyze it) the coronavirus, teleworking is experiencing its moment of glory with implications as positive as a better work-life balance, greater energy savings, greater productivity and the emergence of the so-called 'technological nomads', people who can work thousands of kilometers from their places of origin, who tend to have a high purchasing power and who, of course, prefer to work in the best weather conditions. Lanzarote, again, offers the complete package and promoting this type of presence on the island can undoubtedly be an alternative source of economy, as they activate the hotel industry, the real estate market, commerce and leisure.
It is vital to broaden horizons, study the different markets and trends, but above all, to do so always based on respect for our island and its idiosyncrasy.
Nova María Kirkpatrick, Councilor for Activities and Heritage Responsibility for the PSOE in the Arrecife City Council
