Canarian Weekly – Business association in the south of Tenerife joins the “Lanzarote Loves Tourism” movement

In a bold move to promote sustainable tourism, Lanzarote has taken significant steps to redesign its tourism model. Augusto Ferreira, the organizer of a recent pro-tourism demonstration and founder of the new association “Lanzarote Loves Tourism,” has gained prominence not only locally but also on other islands and internationally.

During his appearance on Crónicas Radio’s “A Buena Hora,” Ferreira shared insights into the growing support for his initiative. “If the Cabildo says it is looking for quality tourists… imagine we go somewhere and they tell us they only want quality Spaniards,” he noted, pointing to concerns about exclusivity in tourism.

Ferreira emphasized that despite its English name, her association resonates with the local population: “Our association will be called Lanzarote Loves Tourism because, although it is in English, we all understand what it means and who the message is aimed at.”

The rally, which promoted tourism, attracted widespread attention beyond the island. Ferreira noted: “When I see talk of mass tourism, I shake my head because we have to be careful what we wish for.” He criticized messages from tour operators that could inadvertently harm local businesses by misrepresenting Lanzarote’s tourism strategy.

An important success for Lanzarote Loves Tourism is the partnership with CEST, which represents around 500 companies in the south of Tenerife. Ferreira revealed: “They contacted me and we had meetings on Friday and Saturday. We will very soon sign the first cooperation agreement with them under the slogan Tenerife loves tourism. We are very happy.” It is expected that this collaboration will soon be expanded to other islands such as La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro, with the hope of also including Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura.

The association has also made waves internationally and has now showcased its popular T-shirts at the London Tourism Fair and the World Travel Market. “It is incredible that our message has even reached the global travel market and that some companies in Lanzarote have not yet recognized its value,” explained Ferreira.

Ferreira also addressed concerns about the sustainability of the tourism sector. “We defend sustainable tourism. It’s not about wanting more hotels; it is about protecting our tourism sector and our tourists.” He pointed out that Lanzarote already practices sustainable tourism, as evidenced by the absence of queues on its beaches, and stressed the importance of maintaining high standards , without succumbing to the pressure of mass tourism.

The new association, Lanzarote Loves Tourism, is poised to address critical infrastructure needs, including transportation and water management, which are vital to supporting a growing yet sustainable tourist population. Ferreira said: “We need to improve infrastructure because quality tourists expect good facilities and we need to continue improving it.”

Finally, Ferreira advocated thoughtful communication and collaboration within the tourism industry. “We want every company to join without being in the spotlight. The protagonist is Lanzarote and the tourism sector, which we must protect from certain challenges.”

As Lanzarote continues to grapple with the complexities of tourism development, the efforts of Ferreira and his association represent a significant push towards a more sustainable and inclusive tourism model that benefits both residents and visitors.