Cabildo president defends the ‘millions of tourists that support employment and economy in Tenerife’
The President of the Tenerife Cabildo, Rosa Dávila, has said that the island’s management in 2025 focused on stability, economic growth, job creation, and promoting a tourism model that “cannot be judged by numbers alone”.
Speaking at a press conference, Dávila stressed that tourism, which is the island’s main economic driver, must also be assessed by its impact on residents’ wellbeing, the protection of natural spaces, and long-term sustainability. She argued for a more balanced model that eases pressure on public services, diversifies the tourism offer, and protects the quality of life for people who live on the island year-round.
Dávila noted that Tenerife received millions of visitors in 2025, which helped sustain employment and economic activity. She also pointed out the Cabildo policies aimed at protecting the environment and improving access to housing.
Job growth, but salaries under pressure
The president reported that Social Security registrations on the island rose to nearly 430,000 people in 2025, an increase of 17,385 workers, more than 4% higher than the Canary Islands' average. Among under-25s, employment grew by almost 17%, again outperforming the region, and nearly half of all new contracts in the Canary Islands were signed in Tenerife.
However, Vice-President Lope Afonso warned that many families do not feel this economic growth in their household budgets. He said rising rents are making it harder for residents to meet basic living costs, a challenge shared not only across Tenerife but also the wider Canary Islands and Spain.
Afonso added that the Cabildo faces limits to its powers, as key responsibilities for planning and public housing sit with regional and national authorities, making it difficult to intervene directly in people’s disposable income.
Poverty and homelessness remain the main concerns
The vice-president said Tenerife has reduced the number of people in extreme vulnerability by 1% this year, although the Canary Islands as a whole remain above the national average. He also reported new dedicated funding to tackle homelessness, stating that higher employment cannot offset the impact of soaring rents and the lack of affordable housing.
Housing remains the island’s biggest challenge
The Cabildo says it has become “the most active public body” in the Canary Islands on social housing, mobilising more than 1,200 housing resources during 2025. Even so, Afonso acknowledged that the housing crisis continues to be one of the main problems facing the island.
He argued that 2026 must be “the year in which these advances take root”, ensuring that housing and social-support policies reach the families who need them most.
Major transport and mobility projects for 2026
On transport, Dávila and Afonso highlighted more than 102 million euros in mobility investment in 2025. Tenerife’s proposed railway system has now been classified as a project of national interest, allowing work to begin on the first section from San Isidro to Costa Adeje. The planned journey time is around 13 minutes, with an estimated budget of 950 million euros.
Road improvements include the tender for a third southbound lane on the TF-5 between Guamasa and Los Rodeos, a 66-million-euro project. Further work on new third-lane expansions on the TF-1 is expected to go out to tender in 2026, aimed at improving public transport and introducing dedicated lanes.
The long-discussed “express tow truck” service has not yet been launched, but is expected to move forward once the national traffic authority issues the required instruction.
New roundabouts will also be built as part of the Guamasa junction works on the TF-5, which carries around 119,000 vehicles a day. The first phase will focus on the downhill direction, with the uphill third lane to follow in stages.
The Cabildo also said that mobility planning includes measures beyond roadworks, such as staggering university start times across 13 faculties and regulating slow and heavy vehicles during peak hours.
The pedestrian ring at Padre Anchieta in La Laguna remains on schedule and should be fully operational in early 2026, likely in March. The project will separate pedestrians from the more than 50,000 vehicles that pass through the area daily.
In addition, 2026 will see the start of a full refurbishment of the La Laguna transport hub, including new mobility infrastructure.
Teide National Park: now under Cabildo management
After 22 years of waiting, Teide National Park finally has a new management plan designed to strengthen conservation, improve visitor experience, and protect the park’s natural heritage.
On 23rd December 2025, responsibility for the park was officially transferred to the Tenerife Cabildo, which is a historic milestone that allows the island to directly manage one of its most important natural spaces and reinforce its commitment to sustainability.
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