Tenerife VP Meets New French Ambassador for Cooperation
Tenerife's Vice-President Lope Afonso met with France's new Ambassador to Spain, Kareen Rispal, to strengthen international ties and explore cooperation in tourism, culture, and international relations.
Tenerife's international outreach strategy recently gained new momentum. This came from a meeting between the island's Vice-President and Tourism Councillor, Lope Afonso, and Kareen Rispal, France's newly appointed Ambassador to Spain. The meeting, held last Tuesday, February 10, 2025, at the Insular Palace, highlights how important the island's government considers working with other countries for Tenerife's development.
During her first official visit to Tenerife, Ambassador Rispal signed the Island Council's Book of Honor, a symbolic step to strengthen ties between Tenerife and France. Their discussions focused on exploring ways to cooperate in key areas like tourism, cultural exchange, and international relations.
Afonso was joined by Pedro González, the Island Director for External Affairs, along with Nathalie Berthy, the Consul General of France in Madrid, and Bernard Lonis, the Honorary Consul of France in Tenerife. He stressed the importance of the French market for Tenerife's tourism economy. The Vice-President also noted how useful these initiatives are for boosting Tenerife's standing in global tourism and finding new opportunities for collaboration.
Kareen Rispal, appointed Ambassador to Spain on January 13, 2025, and who began her role in Madrid on January 20, is an experienced career diplomat. She has held senior positions in the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and at diplomatic missions to the United Nations, Canada, and the United Kingdom, bringing valuable experience to the bilateral dialogue.
Such initiatives confirm the Tenerife Island Council's commitment to strengthening its international connections and raising the island's profile worldwide.