Page 11 - Demo

November 2025 | Gazette Life | 11Aside from tourism, what are the best-performing areas of Lanzarote's economy? What types of businesses will thrive in the future and which will struggle?Sectors such as renewable energy, %u201cthe blue economy%u201d (ocean resources), digitalization, and the cultural and creative industry have shown interesting and sustained growth. Innovative, sustainable, and co-operative companies will have a greater chance than those that fail to adapt to environmental and technological demands. Lanzarote has great potential to become an island laboratory for innovation and economic diversification, but to achieve this, we must carefully design new training paths for our youth and work on proposals to retain talent.Will global events such as the cut in US aid to Africa and opposition to zero-emission policies negatively affect Lanzarote?In a globalized world, we are all sensitive to change, but Lanzarote has an enormous capacity for adaptation and huge potential due to its uniqueness and geolocation. Policies aimed at reducing carbon emissions are not a threat, but an opportunity to transform our production model, reduce external dependence, and generate green and digital jobs.What solutions does the Chamber offer to the housing crisis?Housing is one of the major priorities we have highlighted in this Activation Plan. We propose mobilizing vacant housing with a guaranteed rental programme, incentivizing renovation, and applying clearer regulations to vacation rentals, promoting quality and a balance between tourism and residential use. Solving the housing problem is key to retaining talent and vital for the welfare of our residents. Lanzarote has a larger population, both resident and non-resident, than ever before. Is enough investment in infrastructure being made?The island has grown faster than its infrastructure. The Activation Plan proposes 138 strategic projects, including the modernization of healthcare, energy, port, education, and mobility infrastructure. Rather than spending more, we must invest better, with an island-wide vision, continuity, and sustainability criteria. If the plan is implemented with consensus, Lanzarote can catch up in a decade.Lanzarote also has more tourists than ever before. Do you support any of the proposals of protesters, such as a moratorium, a tourist tax, or a Residents' Law?While we share their concern, we believe the solution isn't to slow things down, but to manage them better. Lanzarote doesn't need more tourism, but better tourism.The self-employed complain of continued pressure and difficulties. Do they need more support?Yes. The self-employed are at the heart of the island's productive fabric, but they suffer from too much bureaucracy and costs. We promote measures to simplify procedures, improve access to financing, and offer useful training, especially in digitalization and sustainability. They don't need protection, but rather fair conditions to compete and grow equally.Are there other issues the island must urgently address?Yes. We must act decisively on the issue of water, as well the housing and mobility issues we%u2019ve already mentioned. At the same time, we urgently need to invest in training and innovation to ensure a sustainable future. Our Activation Plan, which can be downloaded from the Chamber's website, offers this roadmap: a collective project to guarantee long-term well-being, employment, and territorial balance.%u201cA solution to the taxi problems is underway.%u201d