Costa Antigua Industrial Zone to Adopt Tourist Hours

The Official Gazette of the Canary Islands published today a request from the Antigua City Council.

According to the Gazette, the Vice‑Council of Industry, Trade and Consumer Affairs of the Canary Islands Government has declared the Costa Antigua industrial park a Zone of High Tourist Flow, allowing businesses in the area to set their own opening and closing times.

The City Council, which submitted the request, argued that although the zone is officially designated for industrial use, it has effectively become a commercial area. It hosts the majority of the municipality’s retail establishments, including major anchors such as LIDL, Mercadona, Domitorum, Burger King, IKEA, furniture stores, specialty shops like toy stores, a gas station, and other small retailers. This concentration generates a large customer influx, with shopping tourism being the main attraction, thereby meeting the conditions set out in article 12.4.f) of the relevant regulation.

“The zone, despite its industrial classification, functions de facto as a commercial hub, drawing significant tourist shopping activity,” the council explained.

The Government affirmed that, based on the presented reasons, there is sufficient justification to designate the area known as “Industrial Polygon Sector 7 of the Antigua PGOU” as a zone of high tourist flow, in accordance with article 12.4 of Legislative Decree 1/2012 dated 21 April.

The approved text consolidates the Canary Islands’ Commercial Activity Regulation and the commercial licensing framework, aiming to “optimize the economic use of tourist flow, promote local commerce development, and adapt services to the real needs of consumers.” This measure is intended to create a sustainable commercial dynamisation model that benefits businesses, residents, and visitors alike.