PSOE Criticizes Tenerife Government Over Stalled Motorhome Parking Plan

The management of motorhome parking in Tenerife has become a point of political conflict. Tamara Raya, secretary-general of the island’s PSOE, has criticized the current Cabildo government—led by Coalición Canaria and the Partido Popular—for failing to act on a roadmap established by the previous administration to create a structured network of overnight parking areas.

The controversy centers on a strategic plan introduced in May 2023, which proposed a €10 million investment to create 350 parking spaces across six municipalities: Granadilla de Abona, Arico, Arona, Icod de los Vinos, Los Silos, and La Laguna. These sites were intended to provide essential services like electricity, water, waste disposal, and shade, helping to regulate an activity that often causes friction in urban and natural areas due to a lack of designated spots.

The PSOE argues that the project was already well underway, with consultations completed with all 31 local town councils and industry groups, and work already started on a new island-wide ordinance. Raya claims the current government has ignored this progress, stalling on municipal agreements and land preparation. She also rejects the government's argument that they are waiting for regional outdoor accommodation regulations, insisting that the Cabildo has had the necessary funding and authority to move forward for months.

This issue reflects a wider challenge across Spain: how to integrate the growing popularity of campervan tourism into local planning. Without a proper network of service areas, both the experience for travelers and the relationship with local residents suffer. Despite an institutional agreement passed in April 2024, there has been little visible progress. More than two years after the initial plans were laid out, the lack of action remains a major source of tension between the opposition and the island government.