The César Manrique Foundation has publicly called for the removal of large advertisements at the entrance and arrivals area of Lanzarote Airport, labelling them a form of visual pollution that betrays the island’s long-standing aesthetic principles.
In a strongly worded statement, the foundation expressed its “rejection of large advertising boards in the arrivals area and at the entrances to airport and requesting their removal.” The FCM confirmed it had raised this concern directly with the airport management in July, but has since received no response and seen no change to the situation.
According to the foundation, “this is a concern shared by individuals and sectors of the Lanzarote population who have contacted the foundation on several occasions to express their complaints in this regard.”
The foundation finds the advertisements “incomprehensible” for an island with a tradition of protecting its landscape and notes that “this tradition is being broken in different parts of the island with the placement of advertisements, particularly in Arrecife.”
The FCM quoted from a 1976 interview in which Manrique said: “In Lanzarote, incredible efforts have been made to protect the island and raise its standard of living, avoiding by all means the deterioration of its landscape, with the prohibition of horrendous advertisements, and Lanzarote is possibly the only place in the world where this miracle has been achieved.”
The foundation states that it is “inexplicable” that the airport would permit the advertising. They argue it “seriously contravenes the style and wishes of César Manrique and distorts the Lanzarote brand,” while also suggesting the airport’s exterior facilities “deserve more careful attention.”
The FCM is now publicly urging Lanzarote Airport to “reconsider the request it has received, and rectify their approach as soon as possible.”
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