Tenerife Invests €18M in Tourist Area Upgrades

Tenerife's Island Council is investing 18 million euros in 2026 to improve its tourist areas. Key projects include the Las Vistas promenade in Arona, the Puerto Colón seafront in Adeje, and Aceviño street in Puerto de la Cruz. These initiatives are part of the Island Tourism Regeneration Program (PIER), which runs from 2024 to 2027. The program focuses on five areas: Arona, Adeje, Puerto de la Cruz, Santiago del Teide, and San Miguel de Abona. These locations are home to 120,970 tourist beds, accounting for over 90% of all accommodation on the island and its busiest tourist spots.

Lope Afonso, the island's vice-president and Minister of Tourism, wants to boost this program even further in next year's budget. He aims to strengthen their commitment to "regenerative tourism," which means creating a more competitive tourism model that is also better integrated with the local environment and community.

The Island Tourism Regeneration Program is crucial for updating the look and services in these five areas. Afonso explained that they want a strategy built on sustainability, balancing environmental protection with economic growth and social benefits. The goal is to make Tenerife a more valuable destination, encouraging tourists to spend more. Afonso hopes this public investment will also encourage private businesses to improve hotels and other tourist services. He stressed that the Island Council is dedicated to improving the quality of the places that make Tenerife an attractive tourist destination.

At the same time, the "Tenerife and the Sea" program will undertake 20 projects in 2026. These include work at Las Caletillas beach in Candelaria and the car parks in Punta de Teno (Buenavista del Norte), among other locations.

These projects will involve removing barriers to beach access, replacing old equipment, improving public facilities, creating new green areas, restoring coastal public land, and protecting important natural landscapes.

The Tenerife Island Council is aiming for a tourism model that is more integrated with the island's local life. To do this, they are encouraging collaboration with agriculture, local businesses, culture, and sports. The goal is to create new experiences that spread economic benefits more evenly across the island. Lope Afonso, the Minister, explained at a recent Christmas meeting with businesses that their aim is "to strengthen the island's economy and ensure it continues to drive jobs and progress."

For next year, the Ministry will manage a 45-million-euro budget. This money is intended to "boost the island's main economic driver, encourage more balanced tourism, and establish a model built on sustainability, quality, and variety." Afonso emphasized that this budget "shows our commitment to becoming a top-tier destination, where excellent tourist experiences go hand-in-hand with protecting the environment and improving the lives of island residents."

Afonso stressed that Tenerife "must continue to lead in tourism innovation, investing in projects that add value and create opportunities for everyone." He and Dimple Melwani, CEO of Turismo de Tenerife, recently spoke about the sector's unity and strength at a business event at Santa Cruz Maritime Park. Afonso also recently shared insights into Tenerife's success at the Forbes Travel Summit 2025.