CANARY ISLANDS Sustainability Is Responsibility

CANARY ISLANDS Sustainability is Responsibility Produced by Elite Reports Melinda Snider Managing Director & Editor Christina Hays Director & Contributing Editor Maria Nadolu Project Director Mauro Perillo Production & Project Development Director Antonio Caparrós Art & Creative Director Marta Conceição Art Director Mark Beresford Writer Abigail Simpson Production Assistant & Translator In collaboration with www.elitereports.net WHY TOURISM MATTERS Tourism’s growth nternational tourist arrivals grew by a in the Northern Hemisphere (July-September). across all regions further 4% between January and Septem- UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikash- strengthen the ber of 2019, the latest issue of the UNW- vili said last December: “As world leaders sector’s potential ITO World Tourism Barometer indicates. meet at the UN Climate Summit in Madrid to to contribute Tourism’s growth continues to outpace global find concrete solutions to the climate emer- to a sustainable economic growth, bearing witness to its huge gency, the release of the latest World Tour- development potential to deliver development opportuni- ism Barometer shows the growing power of agenda ties across the world but also its sustainability tourism, a sector with the potential to drive challenges. the sustainability agenda forward. As tourist How do you assess the challenges the helping the Canary Islands’ tourism to thrive. Destinations worldwide received 1.1 billion numbers continue to rise, the opportunities Canary Islands’ government and private Diversification is also key. Increasingly, tourists international tourist arrivals in the first nine tourism can bring also rise, as do our sector’s sector will have to face in the near future? are looking for more authentic and unique months of 2019 (up 43 million compared to responsibilities to people and planet.” What key factors should they take into ZURAB experiences. Offering diverse experiences the same period of 2018), in line with its fore- consideration for a successful comeback such as gastronomy tourism or sports tourism cast of 3-4% growth for this year. Tourism now world’s third largest export POLOLIKASHVILI strategy? can not only help attract tourists, it can The global economic slowdown, rising trade, category Secretary-General As a sector, tourism has consistently proven also spread further the economic and social geopolitical tensions and prolonged uncer- Generating US$1.7 trillion in revenues as United Nations World its resilience and ability to bounce back benefits that tourism can bring much wider. As tainty around Brexit weighed on international of 2018, international tourism remains the Tourism Organization from adversity, including financial concerns, UNWTO celebrates our Year of Tourism and tourism, which experienced a more moderate third largest export category behind fuels (UNWTO) political instability and natural disasters. Rural Development throughout 2020, we are pace of growth during the summer peak season (US$ 2.4 trillion) and chemicals (US$ 2.2 Indeed, at such times of uncertainty, tourism keen to see destinations do more to ensure trillion). Within advanced economies, tour- is a constant, and will continue to be so tourism creates jobs and opportunities in rural ism’s remarkable performance after years of in the case of the Canary Islands. As with communities, and, as the islands work to build sustained growth has narrowed the gap with destinations around the world, private and tourism back up, we are confident this will automotive product exports. public sector collaboration will be key to happen on the Canaries. International tourism accounts for 29% of the world’s services exports and 7% of overall exports. In some regions these proportions ex- ceed the world average, especially the Middle East and Africa where tourism represents over 50% of services exports and about 9% of exports overall. This highlights the importance of main- streaming tourism in national export policies to broaden revenue streams, reduce trade deficits and ensure sustainable development on the long run. The world’s top ten earners saw mixed results in international tourism receipts through Sep- tember 2019, with Australia (+9%), Japan (+8%) and Italy (+7%) posting the highest growth, while China, the United Kingdom and the United States recorded declines. Mediter- ranean destinations were among the strong- est performers in terms of earnings, both in Europe and the Middle East and North Africa region. INTRO staging point for traders on their way to and of what he calls “the three Ss – social, solidary SETTING THE PACE from three continents. They have also always and sustainable.” been one of Europe’s most popular destinations Torres has put the tourism sector at the center for a vacation, especially in the winter months. of his strategy for sustainable development. IN SUSTAINABILITY Now the Canary Islands are looking to build on Contributing 35% of the archipelago’s GDP their position at the crossroads of the Western and 40% of employment, tourism is by far the hemisphere to become leaders in sustainable Canary Islands’ largest industry and a recog- The leadership of ocated in the mid-Atlantic Ocean off development. nized global leader. A more sustainable tour- the Canary Islands the west coast of Africa but an integral “With our strategic location between three con- ism sector in the Canary Islands would set a has put sustainability part of the Kingdom of Spain for more tinents and the renewable energy potential of powerful example for other countries to fol- at the heart of its L than 500 years, the Canary Islands our sun, winds and seas, we have all the condi- low, helping to reduce the environmental im- strategy for tourism have long prospered from their unique geo- tions to become leaders in sustainable tourism pact and carbon footprint of this fast-growing & socioeconomic graphical position. and in the fight against climate change,” the re- and increasingly controversial industry. development Along with a subtropical climate, clear skies gion’s new president Ángel Victor Torres said at “I want the Canary Islands to be a true world and stunning landscapes, the archipelago ben- the end of last year. leader and an example of sustainability and efits from the political stability and the open, On assuming office, he immediately prioritized the fight against climate change,” says Yaiza democratic culture of a European country. Over the implementation of the UN’s Agenda 2030 Castilla, the islands’ councilor for tourism, in- the centuries the islands have become a natural for Sustainable Development and the pursuit dustry and trade. “The tourism sector in the INTRO renewable and sustainable energy.” At the same time, the islands are investing in the development of green mobility, supporting the spread of electric taxis across the islands and buying electric, hybrid and even hydrogen cars for use by the public sector. Later this year, Torres’ government will ap- prove the Canary Islands’ first ever law against climate change, which will estimate the carbon footprint of each island and map out the measures to be taken to fight against climate change. Also this year, Torres is confident of achieving a dramatic early victory in his campaign to position the Canary Islands as a global leader in sustainability. One example of its advances in sustainability Islands, it would convert the archipelago into one of Spain’s undisputed centers and technology is the international consorti- of cutting-edge science and research. That in turn would make the archipelago um behind a giant €1.2 billion Thirty Meter the natural location for Spain’s proposed national climate change laboratory, po- Telescope (TMT) project that has signaled it sitioning the Canary Islands on the cutting edge not only of sustainable tourism Canary Islands is already a pioneer in using recycled materials and in reducing to create a fairer and more equitable economy. may switch the location of the facility from Ha- but also of climate science in general. water consumption.” “We want to diversify our offer and attract waii to the Canarian island of La Palma, whose “Our islands are true laboratories,” Torres said in his end-of-year address. “For With the implementation of a more sustainable model of tourism, the islands will tourists who will spend more money in the clear skies have made it home to more than a centuries we Canarians have relied on our own resources and our inventiveness. appeal to more sophisticated visitors, with greater interests than just swimming archipelago, because doing so generates more dozen world-leading telescopes. Now is the time to confront the certainty of climate change…and turn these is- and sunbathing. wealth, employment and social welfare,” Cas- If the TMT project does transfer to the Canary lands into a fairer, more modern and more sustainable territory.” By tightening environmental standards across the region and developing high-val- tilla says. ue segments such as cultural tourism and gastronomic tourism, the government In response to rising concerns about the car- aims to attract higher-spending tourists than those visitors who arrive on all-in- bon footprint of flying, the islands will give clusive beach packages. These new travelers will spend their money more widely visitors the option of offsetting their emissions in the islands, helping to share the benefits of tourism with the population and by contributing to green projects in the archipelago, such as reforestation and renewable energy plants. “We have to show tourists what we are doing to fight climate change, even before they come here,” Castilla explains. Torres believes that the Canary Islands have www.bestingrancanaria.com the potential to become a model for sustainability not only in tourism but also in renewable energy. Already one of the eight major islands – El Hierro – can rely on renewable electricity for 100% of its power requirements. Neighbor- ing island La Gomera is also making signifi- cant progress towards zero-carbon electricity, thanks to investment in wind farms and solar power.

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