Santiago del Teide requires a minimum investment of €50 million over the next 10 years to revive its tourist industry, according to the socialist PSOE.

The statement came as the PSOE rubbished recent announcements from the island government about works planned to improve the tourist infrastructure in Santiago del Teide.
Socialist Cabildo councillor, Ricardo Guerrero, and local spokesman Inocencio Doble said there were no works planned in the Santiago tourist areas.

They accused the Cabildo’s tourism councillor, José Manuel Bermúdez, of putting up a smokescreen for the upcoming national election with his recent announcements of new work.

None of it had been passed or even allowed for in this year’s budget, they said.

Guerrero said: “The only concrete measure undertaken is the inclusion of Santiago in the Tourist Space Regeneration Convention.”
He said the representative, decision-making bodies in the Cabildo had not even heard of the works announced by Bermùdez.
“They have not yet been passed by either the tourism committee or the council,” he said. “There has not even been an intervention report issued, which is needed to guarantee funding will be available to carry out the work.
“The announcement by the Cabildo is no more than smoke that Sr Bermúdez is generating for the forthcoming elections.”

Guerrero deplored “the habit” the Tenerife Cabildo has of announcing studies and projects that are not even close to becoming a reality, in order to appear to be doing something.

He said: “The head of tourism is very fond of announcing prospective projects. It is one thing to announce proposals for the future but quite another to announce plans that haven’t even been agreed.”
Inocencio Doble, the Santiago del Teide PSOE councillor, rubbished the plans, whether they are eventually approved or not.

“An area like Santiago with around 10,000 tourist beds needs €50 million spent on refurbishment over the next 10-12 years to bring it up to scratch,” he said, “and mayor Gorrín should be out knocking on doors to get the money.”