Casimiro Curbelo Urges Firm Economic Diversification for Non-Capital Canary Islands

In the Canary Islands Parliament, Casimiro Curbelo, spokesperson for the Agrupación Socialista Gomera (ASG), called for a clear and effective strategy to diversify the economy of the non-capital islands, which remain heavily dependent on tourism. Curbelo highlighted that on some islands, over 80% of employment is tied to tourism, commerce, and hospitality sectors, making them vulnerable to economic crises. He emphasized the need to bolster industrial, technological, and innovative sectors to ensure a sustainable future for these smaller islands.

While recognizing recent progress such as the declaration of strategic diversification areas, promotion of the blue economy, audiovisual sector development, increased digitalization, and specialized vocational training, Curbelo stressed the necessity for concrete timelines, adequate resources, and measurable outcomes. He pointed out promising aerospace industry initiatives in La Gomera as key to transforming the islands’ economies over time.

Curbelo called for enhanced institutional cooperation among the government, local councils, and cabildos, which hold economic power to drive these initiatives. He noted ongoing challenges like structural costs, geographical isolation, and double insularity that affect island competitiveness, urging tailored support for small and medium enterprises, internationalization programs, specific fiscal measures, and compensations for double insularity.

Concluding, he urged collective commitment to foster equal economic opportunities across all the Canary Islands, particularly focusing on the smaller non-capital islands’ resilience and economic diversification.