The Canary Islands have announced plans to introduce a controversial measure that could put off tourists. The Ministry of Health of the islands has launched a new proposal that will lead to a smoking ban on all terraces on the Canaries.
While the national plan seems to be favoured by the health organisation, the local governments have proposed new amendments to the new Comprehensive Plan against Smoking drafted by Spain’s Ministry of Health.
The amendments, which aim to protect people from passive smoking and convey an anti-smoking message, would include barring smoking on all outdoor bar and restaurant terraces.
These proposed changes have been met with backlash, with The Federation of Hospitality and Tourism Entrepreneurs (FEHT) of Las Palmas raising concerns about the impact this will have on the tourism industry.
FEHT says they support restrictions on tobacco use, however, they have urged the Ministry of Health to “carefully evaluate the economic repercussions of such a ban”, reports Canarain Weekly.
The proposed smoking ban would also affect bus stop shelters, outdoor sports areas and areas near entrances to smoke-free buildings such as schools and hospitals, the Canarian Weekly reports. The government allegedly also want to regulate electronic cigarettes and vaping products in a similar way to tobacco for fiscal and legislative purposes.
José María Mañaricua, the president of FEHT is calling on the Ministry of Health to rethink the proposals, saying the Ministry need scientific evidence and an economic impact assessment before the decision is final. Tourism in the Canary Islands accounts for 35 percent of the regional GDP and employs about 40 percent of the population, according to Canarian Weekly.
Mañaricua also suggested this proposed ban would lead to the Canaries facing greater competition from other popular tourist destinations, such as Greece and Italy, who have not implemented said ban. He also argued that the ban would make the region less attractive for off-peak visitation.
The Canary Islands are increasingly popular with British tourists. In 2023, over a third of the 14.1 million tourists the archipelago welcomes each year came from the United Kingdom, which is over 5 million people.
Despite this, the islands have repeatedly made headlines this summer for overtourism. Thousands of locals have taken to the streets in popular destinations to protest against the mass influx of visitors “taking over” their area.
Spanish residents are reportedly unhappy with the number of tourists visiting in the summer months, which has led to multiple demonstrations. Organisers of protests said they were not against tourists, but rather against the impact that they had on prices for locals, as rent and the cost of living has increased as a result.
