Maspalomas (Gran Canaria)(EFE) social dialogue” both with regional governments and with economic agents and trade unions.
In statements to journalists prior to his participation in a forum organized by the digital Tiempo de Canarias together with the president of the archipelago, Ángel Víctor Torres, the head of Tourism recalled that the productive reality of Spain varies depending on the autonomous community and that measures such as the 32-hour working day should enjoy “a very broad consensus”.
Thus, Héctor Gómez has pointed out that in his Ministry they have carried out some pilot projects related to the reduction of working hours and has insisted that it must be considered from a perspective that takes into account “how the labor market responds”.
“We have a reality of very different fabrics, some very industrial, others that depend more on the service sector… With this variety there must be a very broad consensus across the spectrum,” he reflected.
During his speech at the forum, Gómez pointed out that tourism prospects, both nationally and in the Canary Islands “are good.”
“I am optimistic about the line that Spain follows in terms of tourism, we have many resources and we are in that line of ecological transition, digitization and better positioning,” defended the Minister of Tourism.
Likewise, he has underlined the need to start talking about tourism “beyond the gross numbers” of overnight stays or arrivals and go to other indicators such as destination spending.
The minister has also asked to recognize the “vanguard” role that, in his opinion, the Spanish tourism sector has and regretted that it is not often recognized for different reasons.
“If the pandemic has been of any use and also now the conflict in Ukraine, it is to understand this tourism business fabric, which is at the forefront, how powerful, which has great knowledge and which provides tremendous added value to our country”, Gomez said.
In his opinion, that Spain is the world leader in this sector “is not by chance” and he has valued the efforts for internationalization beyond Europe, especially in Asia and the United States, he said.
Regarding the situation of tourism in the Canary Islands, Gómez stated that the archipelago represents “a model of balanced and compensated tourism development” that is taking “important” steps in terms of sustainability.
During his speech, the President of the Canary Islands, Ángel Víctor Torres, stressed that when tourists visit the islands they are “increasingly demanding in terms of sustainability” and he highlighted the efforts of his Government to bring the ecological transition.
“The energy that we consume in the coming years has to be clean and that has its costs. You have to bet on storage, like Chira Soria (Gran Canaria) or the Güímar plant (Tenerife). We cannot continue burning diesel, the tourist of the future will demand health security and a more sustainable model of life”, Torres reflected.
Finally, he has asserted that the recovery of tourism, and in general the economic recovery of the archipelago after the health crisis, “is no longer a desire” and is consolidated.
“We are exceeding historical figures in these months, with tourist spending never seen before,” he concluded. EFE