Jéssica de León Defends Tourism That Balances Citizens and the Environment

The Canary Islands Government’s Minister of Tourism and Employment, Jessica de León, took part on Friday in the conference “From Impact to Balance: Economic, Social and Environmental Sustainability,” organized by Gesprotur and Asofuer, which gathered the island’s tourism sector in Fuerteventura.

Experts, professionals and public officials examined the ongoing shift in the tourism model, confirming that the Canary Islands are progressing in reducing their carbon footprint both individually and collectively.

The event was hosted at the Island Youth Center in Puerto del Rosario, Fuerteventura, and co‑organized by the public company Gestión de Proyectos y Estudios Turísticos en Canarias (GESPROTUR), attached to the Ministry of Tourism and Employment, together with the Association of Tourist Entrepreneurs of Fuerteventura (ASOFUER) and with the collaboration of the Cabildo of Fuerteventura.

“These meetings allow us to evaluate impact‑ and balance‑oriented policies, which is what citizens are demanding. We need to identify public and private policies that can be implemented, showcase successful cases, and achieve a balanced model where the tourism industry must evolve in the Canary Islands,” — Jessica de León.

De León added that policies must be conciliatory both with Canary citizens and with the environment, promoting a lower‑impact, more balanced model that all public administrations should adopt across the islands.

Marlene Figueroa, Tourism Minister of the Cabildo of Fuerteventura, emphasized the need for continued public‑private collaboration to pursue a balanced tourism transformation demanded by both Canary society and local communities. She warned that, while tourism remains the main economic driver, precarious employment must be addressed through policies that guarantee environmental, economic and social sustainability.

Ignacio Solana, CEO of Gesprotur, highlighted the importance of placing residents at the centre of tourism management while promoting a balanced model within a framework of social, economic and environmental sustainability.

Antonio Hormiga, President of the Fuerteventura Tourism Association, called for stronger collective negotiations and urged the private sector to engage more with the community, support social actions, and actively participate in decarbonisation and regenerative tourism. He recalled the recent CEHAT congress, where national tourism associations stressed the need for social responsibility and direct territorial linkage, stating that “tourism is a wealth for everyone.”

Towards Regenerative Tourism

Under the theme “Regenerative Tourism: Building a Responsible Destination,” Iván González Gómez, CEO of Ataraxia Nova, argued that regenerative tourism is the only viable path for the Canary Islands. He warned that the archipelago has been “sold out” and is now being exploited by external interests.

• In recent years, 15‑20 % of Canary hotels have been acquired by investment funds.
• Over 58 % of the archipelago’s hotel capacity belongs to national and international chains.

Consequently, profits are not reinvested locally but flow abroad. González Gómez advocated for a tourism model based on endogenous resources and emotional connection to the territory. He cited projects such as a tourist complex in San Blas, Tenerife, which integrated archaeology, landscape and local memory, and a laboratory‑style accommodation of 1,000 beds within the Los Arconocales Natural Park in Andalusia, fully supported by environmental groups.

Towards Decarbonisation

José Juan Lorenzo, Director‑General of Tourism for the Canary Islands, presented data showing that carbon‑reduction policies are beginning to bear fruit:

• Total tourism carbon footprint reduced by 8 %.
• Per‑tourist footprint cut by up to 22 %.

He called for a collective pact for the renaturalisation of the islands and encouraged businesses to join the “Journey to Decarbonisation” initiative launched by the Ministry of Tourism and Employment. This free tool measures the carbon footprint of individual companies, the sector as a whole, and the destination itself.

To date, more than 500 people have been trained on the tool, 172 companies are registered, and 74 have already calculated their footprint. Looking ahead to 2026, Lorenzo announced intensified training and collaboration with tour operators so that customers can see emissions data at the point of sale, turning it into a competitive advantage.

Success Stories

• CAPonLITTER Project – Presented by Yaiza Fernández‑Palacios and Candy Cecilia of the ECOAQUA Institute (ULPGC). Funded by the EU Interreg programme, the initiative worked with 14 hotels in Fuerteventura, cutting 35 tons of plastic waste per year and saving ≈ €100,000 annually.

• GF Hotels – “Be Green Life 2024‑2028” – Coordinated by Moisés Expósito, this strategy aligns with the Canary Islands 2030 Agenda. Highlights include:

  • Circular economy applied to food waste, producing compost from organic residues.
  • 60 % reduction in food waste through artificial intelligence.
  • Significant energy savings via new technologies.
  • Water management saving up to 37 million litres annually.

• Triple Impact Hospitality – Founder Joane Hendrix stressed that small daily decisions drive sustainability and warned that many green policies fail because they are not measured or adapted to operational realities, especially regarding food waste and resource use.

European Funding Lines for Sustainable Tourism

Juan Manuel Revuelta, Director of the FINNOVA Foundation, urged the Canary Islands and Fuerteventura to better exploit EU funding to foster innovative, high‑value tourism. He cited the inclusive Hotel Taimar in Fuerteventura as a benchmark.

Revuelta criticized Spain’s low capacity to execute European funds, warning of billions of euros lost to countries like Portugal. He promoted revolving‑fund mechanisms for hotel investments in energy efficiency, water savings and circular economy, and highlighted programmes such as LIFE, Horizon Europe and Erasmus+ as direct financing routes. He encouraged municipalities, SMEs and social entities to submit projects.

The event concluded with a round‑table titled “Waste: An Undervalued Resource,” featuring representatives from ECOAQUA (ULPGC), Marcel (HORECA) and Mario de la Cruz, manager of ASOFUER. They emphasized that Canary Islands already have incentives, training and support for decisive sustainability actions, inviting the business sector to join the transition.

Keywords: sustainability, economy, Asofuer, Jessica de León, Gesprotur