H2O Sports Lanzarote, a buggy tour operator, has reported receiving threats, insults, and acts of sabotage aimed at both its staff and customers over the past two years. The company is considering legal action against the Teguise Council and the Cabildo of Lanzarote due to these ongoing issues, which have created a climate of fear among employees.
The firm insists that its operations are legally sanctioned and blames the conflict on a lack of regulation concerning the routes and dirt tracks used by their buggies. They have requested local authorities to establish rules for vehicle traffic and have even offered to cover the costs of maintaining the paths or to pay an annual fee.
Incidents cited by H2O Sports include placing stones and logs on tracks, the presence of sharp objects, and threats directed at staff and tourists. The company has presented a draft ordinance to the Teguise Council and the Cabildo, proposing restrictions to regulate their excursions. They also point out that there is still no official network established for motor vehicle circulation in natural settings.
In its statement, the company references Article 80.3 of Law 4/2017 regarding Land Use and Protected Natural Spaces in the Canary Islands. This law assigns responsibility for creating and approving the network to the Cabildos, including defining vehicle capacity and usage.
H2O Sports requests details on authorised routes, timings, and the number of vehicles permitted. They also question the treatment of buggy tours compared to other tourist activities in Lanzarote and La Graciosa.
The company has voiced criticism specifically towards Jesús Machín Tavío, the Territorial Policy Councillor at the Cabildo. They argue he has failed to meet with the four buggy tour companies on the island to discuss the ongoing conflict. H2O Sports claims the Cabildo has not yet developed the official routes for motor vehicles as required by the law, raising concerns that this absence of regulation complicates traffic conditions, vehicle limits, and operational control.
Moreover, H2O Sports compares the oversight of buggy tours with other tourist activities, like off-road excursions in La Graciosa, and questions why the official route network has not been approved. They suggest that Machín’s connections to rally racing could influence the absence of regulation, speculating whether potential restrictions on motorsport events may be a factor. They also ponder whether political interests are behind the conflict with the buggy companies in Teguise.
While the company expresses these concerns as suspicions and questions, they do not provide evidence to support their claims. In conclusion, H2O Sports aims to raise awareness of their situation and urges public officials to intervene to reduce the tension surrounding their business operations.
