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6 | Gazette Life | June 2026LOCAL NEWS For more news scan this QR code.The Canarian Government has backed the establishment of a park-and-ride shuttle system serving the Timanfaya National Park, and the prohibition of cars from tourist centre.Mariano Zapata, the Canarian Minister of Ecological Transition, described the current access model as %u201cunsustainable%u201d last month, and expressed support for plans to leave vehicles outside the enclosure and access the tourist centre via shuttle buses.Zapata was responding to a question in parliament from Yone Caraballo of the Nueva Canarias party. Caraballo had demanded urgent measures to avoid the long queues of vehicles that continue to build up at the entrance to the Fire Mountains.The four main beaches of Lanzarote%u2019s biggest resort, Puerto del Carmen, have all regained the Blue Flags that they lost last year.Playa Grande, Playa de los Pocillos, Playa de Matagorda and Playa Pila de la Barrilla (Playa Chica) will all hoist the Blue Flag for excellence once more, after failing to qualify for the award last year.Playa Reducto in Arrecife and Playa Blanca%u2019s town beach have also maintained their Blue Flag status, despite both suffering closures due to sewage in the water in recent months. Reducto re-opened last month after five months, having finally located and repaired the problem.Meanwhile, in Teguise, Socialist opposition councillors have demanded explanations for the continued absence of Blue Flags in the resort of Costa Teguise.The Blue Flag awards require stringent standards of water quality, but also takes into account issues such as the presence of public conveniences, lifeguard services and disabled access.BLUE FLAGS RETURN TO PUERTO DEL CARMENCANARIAN GOVERNMENT BACKS TIMANFAYA SHUTTLE Lanzarote started 2026 with record-breaking tourism figures, despite recent concerns about a possible slowdown during the summer season.The island received 937,940 visitors between January and March, an increase of 2.5% compared to the same period last year. This represents around 22,500 additional tourists arriving on the island during the first quarter.However, this growth was almost entirely down to a 12.5% year-on-year rise in January, when Lanzarote welcomed 309,597 visitors. February figures fell by 2.2% while March remained virtually unchanged from 2025. The first-quarter results come despite warnings from the tourist centre, which has expressed concerns over weaker booking trends for May and the upcoming summer season. The organisation has particularly noted a slowdown in reservations from Lanzarote%u2019s most important market, the UK. FIRST QUARTER TOURISM RECORDArrecife Main O%u0014ce Calle Gin%u00e9s de Castro, 12 - 3%u00b0, 35500 Arrecife - Lanzarote Playa Blanca Office Calle Jaime Quesada El Maestro 8, Bajo - Playa Blanca - LanzaroteTel: (+34) 928 815 262info@lanzarotelawyers.comwww.lanzarotelawyers.comEnglish Speaking SolicitorsJorge de la Cueva TerrerEileen Izquierdo LawlorMario Izquierdo LawlorPablo de la Cueva TerrerClara Castanedo Izquierdo%u2022 Spanish Wills and advice on English Wills%u2022 Conveyancing and transfers of lease %u2022 Personal Liability %u2022 Litigation %u2022 Family Law %u2022 Specialists in Holiday Letting Law and Holiday Let Registration%u2022 Company Law %u2022 Assistance with Local AuthoritiesEstablished since 1986 ~ Serving you on Lanzarote for over 40 years