Fuerteventura proposes limiting urban growth in the Tourist Municipalities Law

The Fuerteventura Island Council has proposed limiting tourist‑driven urban growth in the law, introducing requirements such as environmental carrying‑capacity studies and promoting regulated access to natural areas, during the tourism minister’s intervention in the Island Councils Commission of the Parliament.

The draft Tourist Municipalities Law for the Canary Islands must recognise the island reality—limited and fragile territory under increasing pressure on resources. This was the stance of the Fuerteventura Island Council in the General Commission of Island Councils held on Tuesday, 7 October, where Tourism Minister Marlene Figueroa spoke.

The island corporation defended, before other councils and members of the autonomous chamber, the need for this legislative proposal to provide “a response to the overload suffered by public services” such as housing, mobility and water. It also stressed that the law should consider “the entirety of the territory, not only the so‑called tourist municipalities.”

“The main criteria for determining excellence must be revised: excellence should be conditioned by quality and sustainability criteria; it cannot be based solely on the number of beds. Pressure on services, mobility and the real impact on local life must also be taken into account.”

The council aligns itself with the Canary Islands Federation of Municipalities (FECAM) and the Association of Tourist Municipalities of the Canary Islands.

Environmental Carrying Capacity and Regulated Access to Natural Spaces

The Fuerteventura Island Council proposes to incentivise the rehabilitation and renewal of consolidated tourist zones rather than expanding onto new land:

“Canary Islands cannot continue growing without limits; we must rehabilitate what already exists, protect our natural spaces and guarantee quality services for both residents and visitors.”

The proposal also calls for diversifying the tourism offer (cultural, sports, scientific, gastronomic).

In addition, the council seeks to limit tourist‑driven urban growth in the law, set requirements such as environmental carrying‑capacity studies, and promote regulated access to natural areas. It urges the creation of stable financing mechanisms at both regional and state levels, and mandates that a portion of tourism revenue be automatically allocated to local services.

“This law must guarantee tourism that protects residents, the territory and the destination itself.”

Finally, the island institution issued a statement requesting that local entities be involved through an Island Commission of Tourist Municipalities coordinated by the Island Council. The commission would oversee the implementation of these safeguards.