Tenerife Approves €9.6 Million Coastal Upgrade Plan to Balance Tourism and Conservation

The Tenerife Island Council has approved a 9.6 million euro investment strategy to upgrade and reorganize coastal areas between 2026 and 2030. Titled "Tenerife and the Sea," the program aims to balance tourism with environmental protection—a move Vice President and Minister of Tourism Lope Afonso describes as essential for the island's long-term economic sustainability.

The plan covers sites across the island. In the north, work will focus on improving public infrastructure and access points. Key projects include renovations at San Marcos Beach and El Caletón in Garachico, the reconfiguration of Punta Brava Coastal Park, and upgrades to the Martiánez Promenade in Puerto de la Cruz. The plan also includes better access to Los Patos beach in La Orotava and improvements to the coastal fronts of El Pris and La Barranquera in Tacoronte.

In the capital, the focus is on improving access to Las Gaviotas and Valleseco beaches. In the south, the project prioritizes pedestrian mobility by renovating the popular wooden boardwalk connecting El Médano and Los Abrigos in Granadilla de Abona. The initiative also includes smaller-scale improvements to trails, natural pools, and bathing areas in Adeje, Arico, Arona, Guía de Isora, and Santiago del Teide.

This project comes as local authorities face increasing pressure to manage Tenerife’s coastline effectively. By combining better accessibility with environmental conservation, the Island Council hopes to maintain the coast as both a premier tourism destination and a space for residents to enjoy. The success of these works over the next five years will be a key test of the administration’s ability to diversify tourism while protecting areas of high ecological and social value.