Arrecife Mayor Accuses Port Authority of Shortchanging Lanzarote

Arrecife Mayor Yonathan de León has accused the Las Palmas Port Authority of unfairly favouring Gran Canaria over Lanzarote, arguing that investment in the island’s ports falls far short of the revenue they generate.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the mayor claimed that Arrecife’s contribution to the Port Authority’s finances is not reflected in planned spending on port infrastructure. He criticised the Port Authority’s 2027 Business Plan, saying it highlights a lack of commitment to Lanzarote despite the island’s growing importance.

De León pointed out that around 20% of Arrecife’s waterfront lies within the state-controlled port zone, making the Port Authority responsible for its development. He is calling for new construction projects and improvements to support the city’s continued growth.

According to the mayor, the 2027 investment plan allocates €230 million for port construction projects across the province. However, only just over €2 million is set aside for Arrecife, while €131 million has been earmarked for projects in Gran Canaria, including dock expansions, increased berthing capacity, and upgraded bunkering facilities.

The mayor argued that these figures are difficult to justify given Arrecife’s strong performance in the cruise sector. During the first six months of the year, the port welcomed more than 403,000 cruise passengers, a figure he says generated more than 30% of the Port Authority’s cruise tourism revenue.

He also highlighted that Arrecife recorded growth of more than 16% in cruise passenger numbers, significantly outpacing the combined increase of 9.63% across the province’s three state-run cruise ports, which together handled 1.3 million passengers.

De León credited the growth to the council’s efforts to establish Arrecife as a home port for cruise operators, as well as increasing interest from shipping companies using the city as both a port of call and a base for routes around the Canary Islands and the west coast of Africa.

The Port Authority of Las Palmas has not yet publicly responded to the mayor’s comments.