El desafío demográfico en Canarias: análisis y medidas necesarias
The demographic challenge in the islands will require a «much more serious, broader analysis» through «transversal» measures that go beyond those linked to the rural environment. In essence, a framework of actions that involves revising the current economic model of the islands, based on tourism, as this phenomenon also affects the outskirts of tourist and capital cities, as pointed out by the professor of Regional Geographic Analysis at the University of La Laguna, Luis Jerez Darias.
In an interview with Europa Press, the specialist from the University of La Laguna delves into the characteristics of demographic growth in the Canary Islands over the last decades, as well as the «stagnation» process in which the smaller islands currently find themselves. The demographic challenge in the islands is characterized by its «diversity» among islands, regions, and even within each municipality.
«There is a clear process of coastalization of the population in the municipalities of the Canary Islands, that is, almost 80% of the population of the islands is concentrated in the 0-500 meters altitude strips. Thus, the midlands have been abandoned, in a depopulation process that took place in the 60s and 70s to concentrate in the capitals and their surroundings, and more recently also around the tourist areas,» he emphasized.
To this is added the «added» factor that sets the Islands apart from the rest of the Spanish autonomous communities, especially those of the peninsular interior: the phenomenon of floating population. Thus, the «insular fact» has attracted migration from all parts of the world and tourists.
From this described demographic context, Jeréz encourages reflection on the many possibilities for addressing this challenge, calling for going beyond specific measures in the rural environment, as the outskirts of tourist and capital cities are also affected by the demographic phenomenon.
«Canarias no longer suffers depopulation. Canarias suffered depopulation in the 50s, late 60s, and from there the population of Canarias began to grow. Immigration to America, to Venezuela, stopped, and then Canarias became an attraction space, which has only increased in population. Now we have a demographic stagnation in all those rural municipalities and in the so-called green islands,» he added.
An additional factor to consider is the aging of the population in the archipelago, where the situation, he claims, is approximately similar to the levels in the rest of the country.
## TRANSVERSAL MEASURES
In parallel, the Chamber of Commerce of Santa Cruz de Tenerife presented this week the data related to the Economic Situation Bulletin of the Canary Islands. In it, the president of the chamber institution, Santiago Sesé, emphasized that «to grow better,» it is necessary to «control and balance» the population growth among the islands.
He highlighted the need to continue promoting the development of the green islands with projects that improve their competitiveness, as well as to set «limits» on population growth in the most congested islands.
He also mentioned that in the last 25 years, the population in the Canary Islands has grown by 512,586 inhabitants, of which 245,698 belong to Tenerife, followed at a distance by Gran Canaria with a population increase of 122,782 inhabitants. This difference in population between the two capital islands could be explained by migration, especially the «effect» that the population from Venezuela has had on Tenerife, as well as those who have arrived from Europe, especially British and Italian citizens, to the island.
Referring to these «transversal measures» that need to be applied to address the demographic challenge, the ULL specialist explained that it involves establishing «quite broad» tools, including revising the economic model of the islands linked to the tourism and tertiary sector, promoting that «the population goes where there are more job flows,» for example, to municipalities near the large tourist centers, as is the case of the population influx in the municipality of San Isidro in Tenerife.
Thus, the specific measures established in the rural world in the context of the demographic challenge do not always achieve the desired effect, in the medium or long term, to address this issue. In fact, the ULL professor exemplifies this issue with the employment plans that are sometimes promoted in the green islands, where there is more rurality, and which are implemented without generating an «economic structure» that accommodates qualified individuals, entrepreneurs, and work for locals or migrant population.
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