Canary Islands Film Industry Opposes Teide Park Management Plan, Citing "Disastrous Effect"

A group of 120 companies in the Canary Islands' audiovisual sector is strongly opposing the new management plan for Teide National Park. They are urging that the plan, which is close to being finalized, be put on hold.

The companies argue that the new rules will "kill off" filming activities and have a "disastrous effect" on the islands' audiovisual industry, a sector with significant growth potential.

"A Tourist Sanctuary"

The association believes that if approved, the new plan, agreed upon by the Tenerife Island Council and the Canary Islands Government, will turn Teide into "a tourist sanctuary" and is the "most restrictive in Spain."

The audiovisual industry claims the document, set to replace the one from 2002, was created without proper consultation or transparency. They also state that no technical or environmental impact studies were provided to justify banning audiovisual activities.

The companies point out that these new filming restrictions directly contradict the recognition of the audiovisual sector as a strategic industry by the Parliament of the Canary Islands (2009), the Tenerife Island Council (2018), and the Canary Islands Government (2024).

The new plan for the World Heritage site is more restrictive than the current one, which is 23 years old, particularly regarding permits for audiovisual productions.

For instance, the new rules will, for the first time, specify the number of film, documentary, short film, or advertising shoots allowed and where they can take place.

Productions with up to 15 people will only be permitted once a month. Those with 16 to 100 people will be limited to one per quarter, meaning a maximum of four major shoots annually. Additionally, only one shoot can happen at a time, and they must be in areas with moderate or special use, which have less strict protection.

The 120 companies in the cluster emphasize that they are an environmentally conscious industry and have offered to make commitments if the plan is revised to allow filming in this natural landmark.

They propose paying specific fees for filming, with the money used to "strengthen environmental teams with technicians to oversee shoots." They also suggest making it mandatory for productions to hire an "eco-manager" to ensure responsible practices. Furthermore, they propose creating "a laboratory for innovation in sustainable audiovisual practices in protected natural areas."

The Canary Islands Audiovisual Cluster has provided data to show the sector's economic contribution. They note that Teide National Park, with over 5.2 million visitors in 2024, is the most visited in Europe, and that "audiovisual activity represents a tiny fraction of this number."

The group explains that in 2023, the busiest year for filming in Tenerife with 193 shoots, one-third (63) took place in the National Park, involving 1,225 people. "Using this record year (2023) as a benchmark (4,463,281 total visitors), filming personnel (direct and indirect) made up only 0.027% of the total visitors to Teide."

As an example, the association highlights that "a two-day filming period in Teide injects 100,000 euros into our economy." They add, "70% of the budget goes to staff costs, and the remaining 30% to equipment rental companies, local talent, hotels, car rentals, bus services, catering, security, carpenters, and more."

There is a clear difference in opinion between the Canary Islands' audiovisual sector and environmentalists, who have also called for the Teide plan to be suspended. While the companies are concerned about excessive restrictions, environmentalists believe the plan is too lenient. The companies argue that the plan will severely impact them by limiting shoots, while environmentalists are concerned that "advertising and fiction shoots are allowed, turning Las Cañadas into a backdrop for private interests, which is a step backward for conservation."

The plan is currently in its final approval stages. On October 24th, Spain's National Parks gave it preliminary approval. The Council of the National Parks Network, an advisory body to the Ministry for Ecological Transition, issued a positive report.

Following this endorsement from the majority of the advisory body for the country's 16 most protected areas, only the approval of the State Government Council is needed for the final sign-off of the Teide plan and its implementation, expected by December at the latest. The Council of the National Parks Network acknowledged that the plan needed updating, as the current one, approved in 2002, was outdated.

However, the main audiovisual industry association is requesting modifications. "The industry is not asking for special treatment, but for sensible and consistent regulations based on technical reports that balance preservation with professional activity," the association stated. They added, "No one has a greater interest in preserving this place, which is vital for our work, than the industry itself."

"Instead of outright bans, the Audiovisual Cluster proposes making the Canary Islands a leader in sustainable filming. To achieve this, any regulation must be supported by prior technical analysis that justifies the restrictions and the feasibility of carrying out activities within certain limits, determined by impact, not by arbitrary decisions from an institution," the association concluded.