Santa Úrsula Seeks Tourist Hub Status to Liberalize Retail Hours Amid Union Opposition

Santa Úrsula City Council has applied to the Canary Islands government to be designated an "Area of Great Tourist Influx" (ZGAT). If approved, this status would allow local shops to set their own opening hours and trade on Sundays and holidays, matching the rules already in place in nearby towns like Puerto de la Cruz and Los Realejos.

Mayor Juan Acosta and his team argue that the move is essential to support the town’s 400 local businesses. They point to the municipality's recent population growth—adding 2,000 new residents—and its popularity as a dining destination as key reasons for the change. The Mayor emphasizes that the designation would give business owners more flexibility rather than forcing them to stay open. Santa Úrsula previously held this status in 1999, but it was lost following the national economic crisis. The current application is now under review by regional authorities.

However, the Workers' Commissions (Comisiones Obreras) union strongly opposes the plan. They argue that the retail sector is already struggling with job instability and poor work-life balance. The union also questions the necessity of the change, noting that most of the town’s businesses are restaurants, which are already exempt from standard opening hour restrictions. They believe that liberalizing retail hours will not create new jobs but will instead force staff to work on days traditionally reserved for rest, further damaging their quality of life.

This debate reflects a common tension in Spain: the struggle to balance tourist competitiveness with the protection of labor rights. While the City Council views the change as a way to keep Santa Úrsula competitive with its neighbors, the union warns that the social cost will be paid by workers and their families.