The mayors of the municipalities that make up the south of Tenerife have voiced their deep concern over the increasing number of illegal settlements appearing in protected areas of the region.
During a meeting in Golf Las Americas, they also renewed calls for a fully equipped hospital and an expansion of social care facilities to meet the needs of a growing population.
A united front for the south
The meeting brought together the mayors of Arona (Fátima Lemes), Adeje (José Miguel Rodríguez Fraga), Arico (Olivia Delgado), Fasnia (Javier González), Granadilla de Abona (José Domingo Regalado), Guía de Isora (Ana Dorta), San Miguel de Abona (Arturo González), Santiago del Teide (Emilio Navarro), and Vilaflor de Chasna (Agustina Beltrán).
They reiterated their joint political commitment to a coordinated strategy for sustainable development, improved key infrastructure, and shared land management.
Illegal settlements in sensitive areas
One of their chief concerns is the rise in settlements in areas of archaeological, environmental, and social significance. While acknowledging there is a genuine need for affordable housing, they warned that many of these occupations are encroaching on protected spaces.
They also highlighted that not all settlements stem from essential housing needs; some are being used as second homes or even to let to tourists! To tackle this growing issue, the group agreed to commission a technical report to accurately assess the scale of the problem and present it to the relevant authorities. The aim is to find a coordinated solution that balances the right to housing with the preservation of the environment.
A longstanding demand for a proper hospital
The mayors once again made a collective plea for the long-promised transformation of the Hospital del Sur into a fully equipped facility with all the necessary services to provide residents with the dignified healthcare they deserve. They stressed this is not a new demand but rather a historic claim by a region experiencing continuous demographic and population growth.
They also underlined the urgent need to expand the number of social care places, pointing out that many of the existing spots are occupied by patients who are medically fit for discharge but have nowhere else to go. As part of their action plan, they will be requesting updated information from higher-level administrations on the progress of these critical projects.
Tenerife South Airport needs further upgrades
Regarding Tenerife South Airport, the mayors acknowledged improvements made by AENA but agreed that these fall short of what is needed. They called for the immediate modernisation of the control tower to help avoid flight delays, along with urgent landscaping and exterior works, noting that the appearance of the airport plays a crucial role in shaping visitors’ first impressions of the island.
All nine leaders emphasised that an international airport must meet the standards expected of a global tourism destination such as southern Tenerife, urging AENA to prioritise these enhancements as “essential”.
Tackling congestion at Los Cristianos port
The congestion at the port of Los Cristianos was another major topic. The mayors pointed out the negative impact this has on local mobility and proposed using the underutilised port at Granadilla de Abona as an alternative, provided technical studies confirm its viability. They believe this could help ease maritime traffic with the neighbouring green islands and reduce congestion in the heart of Arona.
Looking ahead to cultural milestones
The meeting also addressed cultural initiatives, highlighting preparations led by the Vilaflor town council to mark the 400th anniversary in 2026 of the birth of Saint Hermano Pedro, the first saint of the Canary Islands. The mayors see this as an event of great cultural and local significance.
This united approach underlines the determination of southern Tenerife’s municipal leaders to confront shared challenges head-on, seeking to protect the region’s natural and cultural heritage while ensuring essential services keep up with the area’s growth.
