The Canary Islands Government has confirmed it will not introduce a compulsory tourist tax, opting instead for a voluntary contribution programme called the Canary Islands Tourism Regeneration and Nature Restoration Fund (RegNext). The initiative aims to fund environmental protection and community projects across the archipelago, which includes Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro.
Voluntary Scheme Replaces Mandatory Levy
After months of speculation about a potential mandatory visitor levy, the regional government announced that travellers will be invited to make optional donations online rather than adding an extra charge to accommodation or flights. The funds will be directed towards selected regeneration projects, with donors able to track the environmental and social impact of their contributions.
According to the Canary Islands Government, the funding will support initiatives including habitat restoration, biodiversity conservation, emissions reduction, climate resilience, landscape improvements and community-focused programmes such as affordable housing.
Record Tourism Numbers and Local Protests
The Canary Islands welcomed a record 18.39 million visitors last year, with tourism playing a vital role in the local economy but also increasing pressure on natural landscapes and local communities. Over the past two years, thousands of local residents have protested, calling for a more sustainable tourism model and raising concerns about affordable housing and pressure on local resources.
How RegNext Works
Canary Islands Tourism stated: "In the initial phase of RegNext, five pilot projects will be selected: one on each of the islands with the highest tourism pressure, and another cross-cutting project of a social nature covering the entire archipelago. To implement them, the Commission will design a voluntary, traceable, and transparent financing system that will allow resources to be directly and specifically allocated to regeneration projects."
Jessica de León, Minister of Tourism for the Canary Islands, said: "REGNEXT has been created to make tourism an active force for environmental and social regeneration. Through voluntary contributions from visitors, businesses and climate foundations, we can ensure that part of the value tourism generates is reinvested directly into restoring ecosystems, strengthening climate resilience and improving the communities that make our destination so special."
Industry Support and UK Traveller Impact
Several major travel companies have already backed the initiative, including easyJet holidays, Jet2.com, Jet2holidays and TUI, helping make it easier for holidaymakers to contribute during the booking process. As reported by the Independent, the Spanish tourist office also said: "For UK travellers, REGNEXT offers a new way to support the destination they visit without increasing the cost of their holiday through a compulsory tax, while giving travel companies a transparent mechanism for investing in measurable environmental and social outcomes."
The islands hope the voluntary scheme will encourage responsible tourism while preserving the destinations that attract millions of visitors each year, without increasing the cost of holidays to the Spanish archipelago.
