Restrictions include curbing the number of visitors to the montain to just 300 people a day. Those walking to the summit will also have to choose from just three time slots
A new charge is being introduced to visit an attraction on Tenerife as numbers are limited.
The island government or Tenerife Cabildo say the new rules are 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, according to Canarian Weekly. 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.
A fully-charged mobile phone, thermal blanket, water and a headlamp will also be required. And checkpoints on trails to ensure walkers are properly prepared. The Island government says routes affected include: Trail 7 (Montaña Blanca–Teide Summit), Trail 11 (Fortaleza viewpoint, Trail 23 (Regatones Negros) and Trail 9 (Teide–Pico Viejo).
The public will also face restrictions between 4pm and 9pm if weather alerts have been issued, between 4pm and 9am If a severe weather alert has been issued access will be restricted to the trails for 24 hours.
Permits will also be issued to tourism firms to allow hikers to climb in icy weather, if they have adequate preparation and resources. Climbing to the summit is free for the moment, but Dávila plans to introduce an ecotourism fee in the future. Local residents will be exempt and others from other islands in the chain will be eligible for discounts.
The regulations are designed to reduce environmental damage, prevent overcrowding, and mitigate safety risks, accidents and costly rescues. Dávila added: “We’re committed to providing a safer, more enjoyable experience for visitors while protecting the natural beauty of the park.”
Unauthorised guides offering services without permits will also be targeted by the new regulations Tenerife Cabildo wants to stop such activities and strengthen the island’s active tourism sector.
The changes hope to protect d sustainable tourism at Mount Teide and improve visitor safety and environmental preservation. Hikers wanting to climb to the summit are urged to familiarise themselves with the new regulations and register where appropriate to avoid penalties.
The Mirror reported earlier how those travelling to Tenerife have been warned to take extreme action after the sunshine island was ‘gripped by deadly infection’. A rise in ‘deadly’ winter viruses has arisen on the Canary Islands which is popular among winter sunshine hotspots overseas.
But there has been a surge in the number of cases of Covid, flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) after a fivefold rise in the number of cases since August. This has led to an official warning being issued by the Canary Islands Association of Primary Care Physicians. Authorities in Spain say the trio of viruses combined have now hit 794 people in a sample of 100,000 people.
