Arona Faces Political Backlash Over Declining Public Services and Rising Insecurity
Opposition parties in Arona are demanding urgent government action to address declining public services, infrastructure neglect, and rising security concerns in the town's key tourist areas.
Public services in Arona have become the center of a heated political debate following recent complaints from the PSOE and the local group Más Por Arona. The opposition is concerned that the declining state of key tourist areas, such as Los Cristianos and Playa de Las Américas, is damaging the town's reputation and competitiveness.
The criticism focuses on poor street cleaning and neglected infrastructure. Más Por Arona, which was part of the local government until recently, argues that the town urgently needs to tender new service contracts to address these issues. Furthermore, local businesses have linked the rise of unauthorized street trading to a decline in public safety.
This unrest follows a series of warnings about falling quality standards, highlighted by the loss of Blue Flag beach awards. In Los Cristianos, business owners report an increase in thefts and robberies, forcing many to hire private security to protect their shops at night.
Former mayor and Socialist spokesperson José Julián Mena described the situation as "administrative paralysis." Meanwhile, Más Por Arona has called on the current government—a coalition of the PP, CC, and Vox led by Fátima Lemes—to launch an emergency improvement plan. The opposition is pushing for stricter enforcement of local regulations and a more visible police presence to stop the town’s decline. This leaves the current administration facing a difficult challenge: they must balance the maintenance needs of a major tourist destination with growing public demands for safety and order.