Beaches, volcanoes, sea sounds... 4 million unite Canary tourism and science
Volcanoes, marine litter, submarine microorganisms, the mineral composition of beaches, ocean sounds and satellite observation of the sea are the six research lines that structure the agreement between Turismo de Canarias and the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), together with the two public universities of the archipelago.
Four million euros and one million research hours bring together the Canary Islands’ tourism authority and the islands’ scientific institutions. 63 researchers, 19 of them newly hired, have been working for more than a year on a series of advanced projects that are now receiving strong financial support from the regional government.
The Agreement for Intelligent Management and the Creation of a “Blue Tourism” product totals €4.1 million. Of that amount, the public company Turismo de Islas Canarias contributes €3.2 million from the EU Recovery and Resilience Mechanism, while the CSIC, the University of La Laguna and the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria provide roughly one million hours of staff work.
Tourism of the Canary Islands contributes €4 million, while scientific bodies supply a million research hours for six projects covering geotourism, ocean health, marine biodiversity, climate change, underwater acoustics and satellite sea monitoring
According to the press release from the Canary Islands Ministry of Tourism and Employment, the regional government is using European funds to back research that aims to move toward a “blue, regenerative and sustainable” tourism model. In practice, this means direct support for the islands’ scientific and research institutions.
“The scientific community plays an essential role”
At a working meeting held at the Canary Islands Oceanographic Center (IEO‑CSIC), the following officials participated, as reported by the ministry:
- José Manuel Sanabria, Vice‑Minister of Tourism
- José Juan Lorenzo, Managing Director of Turismo de Islas Canarias
- The project directors of the public tourism agency
“The sector and citizens will benefit from this programme, which was created to develop a blue product that strengthens the environmental sustainability of the destination, improves scientific knowledge applied to tourism and contributes to the archipelago’s climate‑neutral and diversified economic model,” Sanabria said.
He added that “the scientific community plays an essential role in reinforcing sustainable tourism management, expanding knowledge that enables new ways to reduce environmental impacts, and promoting an intelligent tourism model together with a higher‑value blue product.”
Six scientific and sustainable projects
1. Volcanoes as a tourism product
Project: “Canary Islands – Volcano Destination” – coordinated by the Spanish Geological and Mining Institute (IGME‑CSIC) and the University of La Laguna.
The goal is to identify and valorise the archipelago’s best volcanic landscapes, turning them into safe, accessible, science‑based tourist experiences. From the Spanish Inventory of Geologically Significant Sites, 50 high‑value volcanic geosites have been selected. Interpretive products, routes and outreach tools (360° tours, virtual reality, StoryMaps) are being developed to create a differentiated volcanic tourism offering, provide digital tools to the sector and reinforce the Canary Islands’ image as a leading volcanic destination.
2. Marine litter reaching the beaches
Project: “Promoting Ocean Health of the Canary Islands” – coordinated by the University of La Laguna, the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO‑CSIC).
Researchers are studying marine debris—especially plastics and micro‑plastics—that arrives on the Canarian coasts, tracing origins, pathways and residence times. The findings will give the tourism sector scientific data to anticipate litter events, improve coastal management and design contingency plans based on real‑world evidence, while also enhancing EU OSPAR protocols for protecting the Northeast Atlantic marine environment.
3. Marine microorganisms and health tourism
Project: “Canary Islands – Unique Marine Nature, Health and Well‑being” – driven by the Institute of Natural Products and Agribiology (IPNA‑CSIC), the University of La Laguna and the IEO‑CSIC.
The team analyses microorganisms inhabiting volcanic marine ecosystems such as the Tagoro submarine volcano and the submerged lava flows of Tajogaite. These extremophiles can produce bioactive compounds with potential health benefits. The project envisions new health‑oriented tourism experiences, scientific outreach and marine‑volcanic biodiversity promotion, linking marine biotechnology with blue tourism.
4. Beaches, olivine and climate change
Project: “Canary Islands – Protectors Against Climate Change” – coordinated by the IEO‑CSIC.
So far, 47 beaches in Tenerife, 12 in Lanzarote and Gran Canaria, 11 in Fuerteventura and La Palma, and 6 in El Hierro have been sampled. Researchers assess mineral composition, olivine content and the capacity of these sands to capture carbon and mitigate ocean acidification. Results will feed interpretive trails, visitor centres, environmental‑education programmes and training for tourism professionals, while also informing coastal infrastructure planning to enhance climate‑change resilience.
5. A catalogue of ocean sounds
Project: “Canary Islands – A Sea of Sounds” – coordinated by the University of La Laguna and the IEO‑CSIC.
Nine hydrophone stations and underwater cameras have been installed to acoustically monitor marine biodiversity and build a public database of sounds and images from protected areas. The aim is to compile a catalogue of marine organism vocalisations—such as those of the common dolphin, the loggerhead turtle and the grouper—and translate these findings into tourism and outreach tools that help visitors recognise marine sounds during beach walks, diving trips or whale‑watching outings, while fostering marine‑reserve preservation.
6. Satellites for monitoring the Canary Ocean
Project: “Canary Islands – Reference for Global Water‑Quality Studies” – coordinated by the IEO‑CSIC.
Advanced satellite technologies are being harnessed to generate a real‑time, intelligent data layer that tracks sea temperature, water quality, marine productivity and other key variables around the archipelago. Ground‑truth measurements from the islands will validate the satellite data, supporting the Canary Islands’ bid to host the OC‑SVC, a world‑leading satellite calibration facility. The information will improve beach, port and marine‑leisure management and position the Canaries as a hub for ocean health research and climate leadership.
In summary, the €4 million investment and a million research hours create a robust bridge between tourism and science, fostering a blue, regenerative tourism model that leverages volcanic landscapes, pristine beaches, marine biodiversity and cutting‑edge satellite monitoring to boost the Canary Islands’ sustainable economic future.
Original source: www.fuerteventuradigital.com