Canary Islands Tourism Awards 2026 to Debut in Fuerteventura

The Canary Islands Tourism Council met on Friday in Fuerteventura, chaired by the regional Tourism and Employment Councilor, Jéssica de León. The session, held at the Puerto del Rosario Technology Park, covered a range of topics—from the evolving conflict in the Strait of Hormuz to the status of a vessel affected by hantavirus that is scheduled to anchor in Tenerife—highlighting the need to anticipate possible repercussions for the tourism sector.

“We must anticipate any potential impact on tourism activity arising from these scenarios,” De León said.

First‑time Host Island

De León announced that the 2026 Canary Islands Tourism Awards will take place on 24 September at the Palace of Training and Congresses in Puerto del Rosario, marking the first occasion the ceremony is hosted in Fuerteventura.

“It is the first time these awards arrive in Fuerteventura. Throughout the current legislature we have worked to extend the Council’s activities beyond Gran Canaria and Tenerife. We have already taken the awards to Lanzarote and La Palma, and now we bring them to Fuerteventura, also appointing the jury members who will select the winners in the various categories,” the councilor explained.

New Jury Members

During the meeting, four new members were appointed to the awards jury, completing the panel that will be finalized with additional appointments:

• Susana Pérez – President of Asolan
• Victoria López – Councilor of the Chamber of Commerce of Santa Cruz de Tenerife
• Carlos Castillo – Secretary of Sustainability and Occupational Health, CCOO Canary Islands
• Inmaculada González – Director of the Chair of Tourism of the Canary Islands for Sustainability and Data Intelligence

Legislative Agenda Review

The council also reviewed the tourism regulatory agenda pursued by the Department over the past three years, aimed at modernising the legal framework to reflect current realities in the archipelago. Key milestones include:

• Regulation of active tourism
• Sustainable Use of Tourism Housing Law
• Upcoming Canary Islands Tourism Law

Local Reactions

• Marlene Figueroa, Tourism Councilor of the Cabildo of Fuerteventura, praised the council’s presence on the island and stressed the importance of analysing how international uncertainty affects tourism and employment, which remains a vital source of jobs for many residents.

• Antonio Vicente Hormiga, representative of the business association Asofuer, expressed satisfaction with the council’s island meeting and welcomed the opportunity to address the sector’s main challenges directly.

Application Process

The call for nominations to the 2026 Canary Islands Tourism Awards is open until 30 May. Submissions can be made through the Canary Islands Government’s electronic portal, where detailed information on the procedure and eligibility criteria is available. The awards will recognise initiatives and professional or business trajectories that contribute to:

• Employment improvement
• Innovation and sustainability
• Accessibility and inclusion
• High‑quality tourism services
• National and international promotion of the archipelago as a destination

Stakeholders are encouraged to submit their projects promptly to be considered for this prestigious recognition.