Rosa Dávila, the President of the holiday hotspot Tenerife Cabildo unveiled 70 measures earlier this month – including measures to protect the stunning Anaga Rural Park
Tourist buses will be banned from a popular holiday location in the Canary Islands. The move is being taken to improve traffic flow in the sunshine island of Tenerife where coaches are often seen on its winding mountain routes of the island.
Rosa Dávila, the island president, unveiled 70 measures earlier this month and among the proposals are the prohibition of tourist buses travelling to the Anaga Rural Park which comes into force in the New Year. The plans are part of strategy to replace an “obsolete model” of of getting around the island. Seven key points have been mooted to improve efficiency and sustainability among transport users.
Dávila says the 23 million vehicle trips have already been prevented in the past 15 month and reduced traffic congestion. But the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) was sceptical about figures and asked for inforation to support claims. The president defended the island government’s free public transportation But said 7,000 new bus journeys had been introduced to tackle congestion.
She praised her government’s “courage” in dealing with the island’s mobility problems and asked for unified effort to support a “great pact for sustainable mobility.”
The ban on large tourist buses in the beauty sport of Anaga will also see a new parking area in Las Canteras, It wants to further curb traffic to the Anaga Massif. The area is protected and known for its beautiful landscapes and biodiversity.
Other measures were mentioned for Masca area of the island. But there was no detail on whether it would take effect in 2025. The curbs are designed to protect Tenerife’s fragile ecosystems from excessive number of vehicles.
The island government wants to preserve the peace and environment of Anaga Rural Park. This, they say, will make sure people living in the island nd visitors can “continue to enjoy its natural splendour without the disruptions caused by heavy traffic.”
This approach it says will balance the island’s appeal as a popular tourist destination with the need for transport needs. Spanish authorities recently reported a significant spike in cases of Covid 19, flu, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) over recent months. The trifecta of illnesses are currently affecting a staggering 794 people per 100,000 – 10 times higher than the infection rate in England.
The Mirror reported earlier how Ana Joyanes, president of the Canary Islands Association of Primary Care Physicians (AMAPCAN), said the the three illnesses will worsen over the winter months and urged visitors to make sure they’re up to date with all of their vaccines before flying out for their holiday.
“Vaccination is essential to make the impact of these infections milder or avoid them altogether, especially if you are over 60 years of age or classed as vulnerable,” she said. “Both flu and COVID can be deadly. If we are protected, we will fare better against the viruses.”
