Lanzarote MP Marcos Bergaz (PSOE) has urged the Canary Islands government to clarify progress on the stalled Lanzarote Conference Centre project, which has been ongoing for nearly two decades.
In a parliamentary question directed at Tourism Councillor Jéssica de León, Bergaz highlighted the delays surrounding the convention centre, with its international competition for ideas launched in 2009 and the winning design by Henning Larsen Architects and Carlos Morales submitted in 2011.
“Nearly 20 years have passed, and the Conference Centre is still nowhere in sight,” Bergaz stated. He pointed out that various budget allocations for the project have been made over the years but remain unspent.
The project is awaiting final approval of the General Supplementary Plan for Arrecife, alongside other necessary procedures. Bergaz called for transparency regarding the steps taken in the past year and the plans in place to advance the project.
He emphasised the significance of the conference centre for Arrecife and Lanzarote as a whole, particularly in boosting cultural offerings and attracting high-value conference tourism. According to Bergaz, the average daily spending of such visitors is around £340, compared to approximately £150 for leisure tourists in the Canary Islands.
“It’s a high-value tourism segment that can diversify our offerings, generate economic activity, and enhance the island’s cultural scene,” he added.
Bergaz reminded listeners of the Cabildo de Lanzarote’s announcement in 2024 to process the Conference Centre as a Project of Insular Interest, which was expected to expedite its development. However, he noted that two years later, the project still faces urban planning issues and awaits the final approval of the Supplementary Plan for Arrecife.
Councillor Jéssica de León reaffirmed the Canary Islands government’s strong commitment to executing the project once urban planning challenges are resolved. She mentioned that a key issue is clarifying the potential impact of a coastal boundary on part of the land, which was handed over by the council to the Cabildo in the fairground area.
In light of this situation, Bergaz insisted that all involved authorities turn their commitments and announcements into real progress, stating that Lanzarote should not have to wait any longer. “Nearly 20 years after the call for ideas, the Conference Centre remains unbuilt and must no longer be an ‘eternal’ project. It needs to become a reality,” he concluded.
