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Fate of Lanzarote Hotels Still Undecided

By: Teguise - Article Submitted on: 2008-09-26

Amongst the hotels in Lanzarotein the firing line are some of the islands best known establishments. Including five star hotels such as the Gran Melia Volcan in Playa Blanca, the Natura Palace and the Gran Castillo.

In total eight five star hotels, ten Apart-hotels and four new developments still in the planning and construction stage have been decreed to have flouted an island wide edict designed to ensure controlled construction on Lanzarote. The first island in the word to be declared a UNESCO protected biosphere in 1994.

However all of these hotels are still open and trading. As island authorities attempt to formulate a consensus as to how to resolve the issue.

The problems all started back in 2000, when island authorities set a limit on the number of new hotels which could be built. Declaring that any new hotels given the green light had to be of a four star and above standard.

Councilors in the municipios of Yaiza and Teguise, which encompass two out of three of Lanzarote´s main resorts, chose to ignore these limitatations however. And granted licenses to hotels which contravened these self-imposed restrictions. Using some €270 million of public funds (some of which was provided by the EU) in the process.

Only the well established hotels in Puerto del Carmen, Lanzarote´s most popular resort, managed to escape the controversy. As local councilors in this municipio remained aloof from pursuing similar practices.

A police unit that specialises in fighting organised crime was then formed to investigate whether the former mayors of Teguise and Yaiza were guilty of accepting bribes from developers in return for building licenses.

A view that was supported by the Supreme Court of the Canary Islands as a result of an action instigated by the Ayuntamiento (central island government) and the César Manrique Foundation. A body that posthumously carries the torch for the island born artist and architect who fought against over- development on the island throughout the 1980´s.

Last week a further meeting was held between the Director of the Environmental Department of the Canarian Government Don Domingo Berriel, representatives from the affected Ayuntamientos of Teguise and Yaiza and the hoteliers association Asolan.

It was agreed that a case by case study was necessary to explore exactly what could be done to bring the hotels infrastructure in line with the requirements for their legalization.

However, most island observers believe that the hotels in question will almost certainly be granted an amnesty. As demolition will cost thousands of jobs and damage Lanzarote´s standing as a popular holiday destination. Attracting over one million visitors annually from Britain and the Republic of Ireland alone.

The most likely scenario is that the hotels in question may instead be fined. So ensuring that Lanzarote´s reputation remains untarnished. As the island can ill afford to reduce two of its three resorts to rubble.

Article Source: http://articles.travelandtourisminfo.com

Nick Ball is editor of Lanzarote Guidebook, the in-depth Lanzarote tourist guide, which features a wide selection of hotels in Lanzarote

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