The long-awaited Siam Park water park in the south of Gran Canaria has hit another key juncture, as the San Bartolomé de Tirajana Town Council has made it clear that no construction licence will be granted until the regional government formally approves the El Veril Modernisation and Improvement Plan (PMM).
Davinia Ramírez, the Councillor for Urban Planning, issued a firm statement on Friday highlighting that “the responsibility now lies with the regional government,” referring to the Canary Islands Government’s role in finalising the planning framework needed for the project to move forward. She described the water park as “a strategic project for Gran Canaria” and called for unity and cooperation from opposition parties.
The proposed Siam Park in Gran Canaria, a sister facility to the popular water park in Tenerife owned by the Kiessling family, has been delayed for several years by administrative hurdles and political disagreement.
Ramírez responded to criticism from opposition figures by blaming past failures on the previous administration, stating that “a significant part of the uncertainty surrounding this project stems from poor management during the last term, when Ms. Narváez was mayor.”
Since the current administration took office in mid-2023, Ramírez said, the Urban Planning Department has made swift progress, completing all necessary procedures within two years. She noted that in June 2024, the town council unanimously approved the start of the formal process to revise and advance the PMM, correcting errors from earlier stages.
Multiple technical and political meetings have taken place with the regional government, which holds exclusive authority to finalise the PMM. Ramírez explained that the process has included detailed reviews of environmental impact, water resource availability, territorial planning, and economic viability.
She stressed that until the Canary Islands Government formally approves the revised plan, the council cannot issue the construction licence, as this step is governed by regional planning laws and subject to environmental procedures.
“The Siam Park project represents a unique opportunity for employment and tourism development in Gran Canaria,” she said. “Out of respect for our citizens and the economic potential this park offers, I urge the opposition to act responsibly and constructively.”
The approval of the PMM would clear the way for the long-delayed water park to finally begin construction, marking a significant milestone for one of the island’s most ambitious tourism projects.
