Local authorities have reportedly green-lighted a mega £587 million project to build five new hotels, and expand an existing one, in a Canary Island hotspot – despite rising anti-tourist sentiment
Following more than a decade of ‘stagnation’, one tourist resort in the Canary Islands is about to be totally transformed.
Famed for its golden sandy beaches, modern shopping malls and stylish restaurants – the sun-soaked region of Meloneras in south Gran Canaria has been attracting holidaymakers for decades. It’s ideally located less than an hour away from the island’s capital, Las Palmas, making it a great base to explore Gran Canaria’s rich history, including the UNESCO-accredited Vegueta neighbourhood.
Following 14 years of ‘bureaucratic delays and planning gridlock’, developments on the island have struggled to get off the ground. However, the San Bartolomé de Tirajana (Maspalomas) local council has reportedly green-lighted a huge project to expand one existing hotel and build five new ones.
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According to Canarian Weekly, the developments – which are being spearheaded by the Lopesan Group, are expected to exceed a staggering €700 million (approx. £587 million). The site states the investment will add 1,800 hotel rooms, 3,600 new beds and will cover a total area of 271,500 square metres.
“The hotel expansion includes a 533-room congress hotel with 1,200 beds, which is already under construction,” Canarian Weekly added. “A second hotel on a 56,100 m² plot, will offer 1,123 beds, while a third property on 25,500 m² of land will feature 691 beds.”
The fourth development site is believed to be made up of several villas and bungalows, while the fifth hotel, which will rise up to seven storeys, will be located across from the acclaimed Baobab Hotel. The project will also seek to improve infrastructure in the area, by creating wider streets, new roundabouts, and even a service road that runs parallel to the seafront, local media writes.
It has not yet been confirmed how long the hotels will take to build, or when they will be open for use. The Lopesan Hotel Group already manages 11 luxury hotels in Gran Canaria, two in Fuerteventura, as well as sites in Thailand, Germany, and Austria.
While the news may go down well with sun-worshipping Brits wanting to live it up in luxury for a week in the summer holidays – Lopesan’s mega plans might spark backlash from fed-up locals. Many residents are becoming increasingly critical of over-tourism on the island – arguing it has worsened the country’s housing crisis and is resulting in irreversible environmental damage.
Last year, a slew of anti-tourist protests erupted across the archipelago – as frustrated locals, armed with banners, demanded holidaymakers ‘go home’. Tensions have continued to rise in recent months, with demonstrations taking place across the Canary Islands just two weeks ago.
The Mirror has contacted Lopesan Hotel Group for comment.
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