Tenerife Business Group Challenges La Laguna’s Anaga Rural Park Vehicle Ban

The La Laguna City Council’s recent decision to restrict rental cars and tourist transport in the Anaga Rural Park has sparked a dispute with local businesses. The Association of Natural Space Operators of Tenerife (AOENTE) has formally requested a meeting with the council to challenge the move, which they describe as a unilateral decision. Instead, they are calling for a more comprehensive approach to managing traffic in the area.

The disagreement centers on how to handle overcrowding in a protected landscape that is physically fragile and difficult to navigate. While the city council has chosen to simply ban certain vehicles, business operators—including TUI Spain, Teleférico del Teide, and Forestal Nature Park Canarias—argue that the issue is more complex. They contend that the problem is not just the type of vehicles, but the sheer volume of traffic on a road network that was never designed to handle current visitor numbers.

Led by Joan Rodríguez de la Sierra, the AOENTE is proposing a technical, long-term plan rather than selective bans. Their suggestions include using real-time monitoring to track capacity and building park-and-ride facilities on the outskirts of the park. This strategy aims to reduce traffic in sensitive ecological areas before vehicles reach the most congested points.

The group also emphasizes the need to improve public transport by increasing bus frequency and providing better information to visitors. They believe that tourism companies can help manage visitor flow if they work in close coordination with local authorities. Ultimately, the association argues that protecting Anaga requires a balance between environmental conservation, road safety, and economic stability—a goal they believe can only be reached through collaboration rather than restrictive measures that could have negative, unintended consequences.