The Spanish Government has approved a total of €110 million investment from Next Generation EU funds in order to improve tourism competitiveness in several territories, including the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, Ceuta and Melilla.
Commenting on the approval of this aid package, the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Maria Reyes Maroto, said that notable progress had been made in establishing tourism resilience strategies envisaged in the Recovery Plan for archipelagos and autonomous cities, as per the reports.
In a statement issued on June 14, the Government announced that The Council of Ministers has also adopted a Royal Decree which provides direct subsidies authorizing the Government to transfer €50 million for each of the autonomous island communities and €5 million for each of the autonomous cities.
”In the case of the autonomous communities of the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands, the actions financed with this aid must allow their highly touristic economies to adapt to shocks in demand, such as in the case of pandemics, impacts on tour operators or others. While, in the case of the cities of Ceuta and Melilla, the actions must allow tourism to be mobilized as a driving force for regional economic development,” the statement reads.
According to the Government, particularly in the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands, actions can be financed for the requalification of the old tourist infrastructure, investments in public infrastructure, and improving the attractiveness of public spaces. In addition, the promotion of sustainable mobility, the environmental management of beaches and their improvement with facilities and the provision of approved trails can be carried out.
“In the case of the Balearic Islands, incentives are also contemplated for opening supply outside the high season and in the Canary Islands, incentives aimed at transport companies to facilitate connectivity with the peninsula,” the statement reads.
Among other actions that can be financed with this subsidy in Ceuta and Melilla include investments in tourism infrastructure as assistance to tourism companies for the modernization and renovation of the tourist plant.
In addition, there will be training in tourism skills, especially among young people and the national and international promotion of the two cities as tourist destinations of historical and cultural interest, complementing the funding of local agencies or entities to promote tourism.
The Government has also stated that these specific subsidies for the island and Ceuta and Melilla are intended to fulfill the commitment made by the Spanish Government. It also stipulates that in the second quarter of 2025, at least 400 beneficiaries of off-peninsular territories must have completed projects to improve their competitiveness and ability to adapt to changes in international markets.
