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10 | Gazette Life | July 2026GAZETTE | INTERVIEW%u201cWE SHOULD CELEBRATE OUR TOURISTS%u201d Lanzarote%u2019s southernmost municipality, Yaiza, receives hundreds of thousands of tourists each year, mostly in the resort of Playa Blanca. Keeping those tourists happy, and ensuring that income benefits local residents is just one of the challenges faced by the local council in a world which bring new challenges all the time. We spoke to Daniel Medina, Yaiza%u2019s Tourism Councillor, last month. One of the more widely-supported proposals of the demonstrations against the effects of mass tourism in recent years has been a tourist tax. What is your opinion on the issue?It%u2019s a complicated issue, and we%u2019d have to analyse it closely, to decide how funds could be raised and where they would be spent. We%u2019re aware that any such proposal will have strong opposition %u2013 the example of Mog%u00e1n in Gran Canaria, where hotel owners have taken the mayor to court after she introduced a municipal charge for overnight stays, has shown us that. But we%u2019re also aware that in recent years there%u2019s been a disconnection between local residents and tourists, with issues like the housing crisis and water cuts. It%u2019s important that residents here feel as though they have a stake in tourism. We should celebrate tourists, and offer them a unique experience.Yaiza has announced a new Improvement and Renovation Plan for Playa Blanca. Will this be similar to the one that has been taking place in Puerto del Carmen in recent years? Yes, the aim is to upgrade existing accommodation with subsidies, improve and update public zones, especially in the centre and the maritime walkway. We%u2019re putting priority on the stretch between Fund Grube and the harbour and hope to start by the end of the year. The approach towards Femes is also important. That roundabout near Aldi is very ugly and needs to be improved urgently. We%u2019re also hoping that the sewage treatment centre will be tackled at the beginning of next year. Then there%u2019s the general upkeep and replacement of roads, pavements and lighting in the resort. Intervie Daniel Medina, Yaiza Councillor for Tourism, Festivities and Youth