Rosa Dávila, president of Tenerife Cabildo, wants to improve traffic flow and preserve Tenerife’s natural beauty and the reason why tourists continue to return
Tourists from Britain will be banned from a popular activity on the sunshine island of Tenerife.
Island leaders have restricted tourist buses gaining entry to the natural beauty of Anaga Rural Park in the New Year. Rosa Dávila, president of Tenerife Cabildo, wants to improve traffic flow and preserve the island’s natural beauty.
She has unveiled some 70 measures to safeguard Tenerife’s environment announced ‘mobility reform.’ And one of the most notable curbs is the prohibition of tourist buses from accessing the park which begins in January.
The measures are part of a broader strategy replace the “obsolete model” of mobility which now exists. Seven key points will Improve transportation efficiency and sustainability. The restrictions, she says, have reduced 23 million vehicle trips over a 15 month period and “significantly reducing traffic congestion.”
Opposition groups including the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) have been sceptical about the reported figures. But Dávila has defended the island government’s commitment to free public transportation. She also drew attention to 7,000 new bus journeys designed to reduce congestion.
She promised in 2023 elections to eliminate traffic jams on motorways within 90 days and admitted it was a complex issue after the election. But the Canarian Weekly reports she praised her government’s “courage” in tackling the island’s traffic issues nd called for a unified effort to support a “great pact for sustainable mobility.”
The large tourist buses ban in Anaga will also be introduced with a new parking area in Las Canteras. hopes to further restrict traffic to the Anaga Massif, a protected natural area known for its stunning landscapes. Dávila mentioned a similar measure for Masca, but did not specify whether it would take effect in 2025.
The curbs hope to reduce traffic congestion and protect the island’s fragile ecosystem from the effects of an excessive number of vehicles. The Cabildo hopes to preserve the tranquility and environmental integrity of Anaga Rural Park and ensure people living on the island and visitors can continue to benefit from its beauty without the disruptions caused by heavy traffic. The island government’s approach hopes to establish a balance between tourism and ‘sustainable and efficient’ transportation solutions.
The Mirror previously reported how a new charge is also being introduced to visit a famous volcano on the island. New rules are being introduced for those hiking to the top of volcano Mount Teide. Rosa Dávila said the restrictions include curbing the number of visitors to just 300 people a day. And those walking to the summit will have to choose from just three time slots.
Hikers must now register on the ‘Tenerife ON’ app. They can then choose between 9-4pm, 4pm-midnight, and midnight-9am. The Teide National Park, meanwhile, will have 24-hour support staff working throughout the year.
But visitors, many who travel from Britain, could also face a €600 fine for not keeping to curbs and could be liable for rescue between €2,000 and €12,000. Guidelines will also be introduced about equipment including the necessity for mountain footwear and warm clothing.
