Fuerteventura seeks progress on new open commercial zones
The Cabildo wants the Canary Islands Government to assess proposals for four open commercial zones and an extension to Gran Tarajal’s existing area.
Fuerteventura’s Cabildo is calling on the Canary Islands Government to assess proposals for new recognised open commercial zones in Morro Jable, El Cotillo, El Charco and Betancuria. Gran Tarajal has also requested an extension to its existing zone.
Island economic development councillor Lolina Negrín said the regional government had committed to examining the requests, but the technical study needed to determine whether they meet the conditions for recognition had not yet been carried out. Recognition can help commercial areas access funding for improvements and campaigns to support economic activity.
Pájara council has proposed a zone at the entrance to Morro Jable, while La Oliva has put forward a proposal for El Cotillo. In Puerto del Rosario, the request concerns El Charco. Betancuria has businesses but no recognised open commercial zone of its own.
Negrín said representatives of the Cabildo, local councils and the regional government’s Directorate-General for Commerce had visited commercial areas around the island to understand their needs and assess the municipal proposals. The requests were then passed to the regional government for consideration.
Shopping voucher campaign
Negrín also highlighted the fifth edition of the Yo Compro en Fuerteventura campaign, whose voucher sales began on 10 November at yocomproenfuerteventura.com. Each €10 voucher can be used for €20 of purchases at participating businesses, with a limit of 15 vouchers per person. Vouchers can be redeemed until 20 January 2027.
The Cabildo is contributing €400,000 to the campaign. Negrín estimated that approximately €742,000 would reach local businesses from the combined contributions of the institution and shoppers, after management costs. At the time of her interview, 144 businesses were registered, with more able to join during the campaign.
Negrín also identified freight delays and customs procedures as problems for small and medium-sized island businesses. She said discussions on possible solutions were taking place with the Canary Islands Government and the Chamber of Commerce.