The disgraceful first impression at Tenerife South Airport spark tourism concerns
Mounting rubbish and deteriorating state of gardens and planted areas approaching Tenerife South Airport are raising alarm among business groups and tourism associations, who warn that the state of neglect is creating both a health hazard and a damaging first impression for visitors arriving on the island.
The problem stems from the lack of a maintenance contract. Earlier this year, AENA, the Spanish airport authority, terminated the agreement with the company responsible for gardening, maintaining, and cleaning the outdoor areas. A new tender was issued in May, but no companies applied for it, leaving no one in charge of upkeep.
Tourism Leaders Speak Out
The Centro de Iniciativas Turísticas del Sur de Tenerife (CIT Sur) has expressed “deep concern” about the abandoned state of the airport’s green areas. The organisation warns that the accumulation of waste and neglected gardens is creating an unsanitary environment, unacceptable for an international airport.
“This image, perceived by thousands of travellers, tourists and residents alike, is disgraceful,” CIT Sur said in a statement. “It damages both the perception of quality and the sense of hospitality that Tenerife must uphold as a leading tourist destination.”
The Círculo de Empresarios del Sur de Tenerife (CEST) echoed this frustration, criticising what it calls AENA’s passivity: “What should be the calling card of our tourist destination has become an area of dirt and abandonment, even denounced by tourists themselves on social media with photos and comments that shame us as an island.”
CEST has urged AENA to act immediately, warning that Tenerife’s airports cannot be allowed to project a “third-world image” that undermines the island’s reputation and visitor experience.
Call for Urgent Action
CIT Sur also highlighted that Spain’s Public Sector Contracts Law provides emergency mechanisms that allow authorities to act swiftly while awaiting a permanent solution.
Its president, Rafael Dolado, insisted: “It is not necessary to wait until the situation worsens when the law already provides mechanisms to act immediately. This case fully justifies their application.”
Both organisations are urging AENA to urgently activate these legal options to restore cleanliness, mitigate the growing health risks, and protect Tenerife’s image as a world-class tourist destination.
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