Study Proposes Parking Management for Fuerteventura’s Beaches
A study by the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, published in the Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, examines 24 natural beaches along Fuerteventura’s coast. It suggests reorganising parking to prevent an overload of vehicles and campers in sensitive areas, according to Atlántico Hoy.
The research highlights that the lack of defined parking spaces leads to unregulated parking near easily accessible beaches, often damaging valuable natural areas. The absence of marked pathways increases foot traffic off trails, negatively impacting vegetation, wildlife, and coastal processes.
Protected Beaches
The 24 beaches are located in La Oliva, within the North Coast Special Protection Area (ZEPA) of Fuerteventura, a region safeguarded for its environmental significance. It features valuable habitats, dune systems, lava fields, secluded coves, and important bird sites, including habitats for the Canary bustard.
The study also ties into ongoing environmental restoration related to the illegal development of Casas de Majanicho. This project has impacted 140 hectares of highly valuable coastal land, with about 15.5 hectares falling within the ZEPA.
Visitor numbers to Fuerteventura surged from 2,030,244 in 2022 to 2,493,116 in 2024, a 22.8% increase in just two years. This influx is particularly felt around Corralejo, El Cotillo, and Lajares.
In 2024, Corralejo, home to 18,704 residents, saw 405,852 arrivals—averaging 22 visitors per resident. Meanwhile, El Cotillo, with 1,474 inhabitants, has a density of approximately 126 tourist beds for every 100 residents, illustrating a case of “structural overtourism.”
Parking as an Environmental Tool
The final proposal does not suggest overcrowding the coastline with parking facilities. Instead, it aims to determine the number of parking spots that can exist without exceeding the area’s environmental capacity. The research emphasises that parking availability should not be dictated by potential visitor demand but by what each beach can sustain while preserving its natural values.
Overall, the study divides the coast into sectors and proposes a limit of 159 parking spaces, a figure compatible with conservation efforts. This model would help regulate access, prevent the accumulation of vehicles and campers in vulnerable spots, and reduce informal land occupation.
