Canary Islands launches voluntary tourism sustainability fund

The Canary Islands government and Spanish Tourist Office have unveiled a new sustainability initiative based on voluntary funding of environmental and community projects by tour operators and visitors rather than introduce a tourist tax.

 

The government rejected the idea of imposing a tax on international arrivals to provide revenue for a new Canary Islands Tourism Regeneration and Nature Restoration Fund (REGNEXT) for environmental restoration projects.

 

Unveiling the scheme in London, Canary Islands’ minister of tourism Jessica de León noted destinations across Europe are increasingly introduce visitor taxes to help manage tourism and fund sustainability programmes. 

 

By contrast, the Canary Islands proposes a voluntary scheme for travel companies and travellers.

 

A REGNEXT digital platform will enable contributors to connect with environmental and social regeneration projects across the Canary Islands. 

 

It’s aimed to ensure complete transparency and the traceability of funds, with contributions directed to specific projects rather than going into a general fund.

 

The fund will be open to voluntary contributions from tourists, travel companies, foundations and other organisations. Users may choose the projects they wish to support and follow their progress.

 

Each project will include information on its objectives, budget, implementation timetable and expected outcomes. 

 

Contributors will have access to regular progress reports and independently verifiable data showing environmental and social impacts, from restored habitats and reduced emissions to strengthened climate resilience and community initiatives.

 

Jet2holidays, Tui and easyJet holidays have already signed up as financial contributors along with other international tourism businesses.

 

Speaking at the scheme’s launch in London, de León said: “We are driving a profound transformation of our tourism model with a clear objective: to ensure tourism delivers greater benefits for the people of the Canary Islands. 

 

“REGNEXT is one of the key tools that will help us achieve that.”

 

She said: “We have worked tor many years to reduce tourism’s environmental impact through greater energy efficiency and lower emissions. Now it is time to go one step further and create a tourism model capable of generating a positive impact on the destination.

 

“REGNEXT has been created to make tourism a force for environmental and social regeneration. 

 

“Through voluntary contributions we can ensure that part of the value tourism generates is reinvested directly into restoring ecosystems, strengthening climate resilience and improving the communities that make our destination so special.”

 

De Leon insisted REGNEXT “places the people of the Canary Islands at the heart of our tourism policy while building a fairer, more sustainable tourism model”.

 

She emphasised the scheme offers visitors a way to support the destination without the cost of their holiday increasing through a tax, and travel companies a transparent mechanism for investing in environmental and social outcomes.

 

However, Spain’s regional taxation system means the proceeds of a tourism tax would not go to the Canary Islands’ government but to the central government in Madrid for dispersal, making a fund based on voluntary contributions more attractive.

 

Projects to be supported by REGNEXT will include habitat restoration, biodiversity conservation, emissions reduction, climate adaptation, landscape improvement and community initiatives such as the provision of food banks and affordable housing.

 

Manuel Butler, director of the Spanish Tourist Office in London, welcomed the scheme, saying: “This innovative approach replaces obligation with voluntary contributions to well-designed sustainability projects that will benefit both visitors to the Canary Islands and local communities. 

 

He said: “REGNEXT will help protect and restore natural spaces, reduce emissions, improve quality of life for residents and enhance the visitor experience.”

 

The Canary Islands government is also legislating to regulate holiday rentals and plans other measures aimed at creating a better balance in tourism.

 

The government’s Sustainable Regulation of Tourist Use of Residential Properties Act, introduced last December, has already halted the registration of new holiday rental accommodation in 85 of the islands’ 88 municipalities and about 1,500 holiday rental properties have voluntarily left withdrawn from the tourism register.

 

The legislation will enable local authorities to decide how many properties can be accommodated and where they should be located.

 

Canary Islands director general for tourism planning Miguel Ángel Rodríguez said: “Our objective has never been to eliminate holiday rentals but to ensure they develop in a sustainable and planned way. 

 

“For the first time, local authorities will be able to decide where this type of accommodation is appropriate, based on planning, environmental assessment and the needs of local communities.”

 

He added: “The early results are encouraging. We have seen a voluntary reduction in registered properties while creating the conditions for a more balanced tourism model that protects housing and provides greater certainty for residents, visitors and the tourism industry.”