El Charco to host White Night on 14 November as Open Commercial Zone application progresses

El Charco is preparing to host Puerto del Rosario’s White Night on 14 November.

The initiative aims to attract visitors, bring the streets to life and support local businesses, as Tacoremi Gutiérrez, Puerto del Rosario Town Council’s Commerce councillor, said in an interview.

It is one way of boosting an area that has been seeking Open Commercial Zone status for years.

Despite interest from residents, traders and the local council itself, the application is “moving slowly, very slowly”, the councillor acknowledged. She recalled that an application had been submitted to the Canary Islands Government, a visit to the area had taken place and the Town Council had proposed drawing boundaries around the area to cover about 170 commercial establishments.

The proposed Open Commercial Zone covers the area between Manuel Velázquez Avenue and Almirante Lallermand Street.

Puerto del Rosario Town Council is still waiting for the designation process to move forward and has asked the Fuerteventura Island Council to approach the Canary Islands Government in an effort to speed things up. “We are still waiting for answers,” Tacoremi Gutiérrez said.

The councillor highlighted the importance of the designation and the boost it would bring, as it would open access to dedicated funding to improve and revitalise commercial areas, while strengthening the work already being carried out in the neighbourhood.

New businesses in Fabelo match demand as a dozen premises return to use

Tacoremi Gutiérrez gave a positive assessment of the various initiatives to support local businesses. These include the “Puerto with Smart Businesses” project, funded with €282,000 in European funds channelled through the Canary Islands Government and organised around six strands covering digitalisation, revitalisation, training and the reactivation of vacant premises.

“This grant comes from the project we had already presented, Puerto with Smart Businesses, which received €282,000 in funding,” Tacoremi Gutiérrez explained, stressing that the initiatives had been carried out without drawing on municipal funds.

In her view, one of the most visible results has been the Town Council’s register of commercial premises, which has helped a dozen businesses take up premises. According to the councillor, only one or two are currently available.

Gutiérrez also highlighted how identifying commercial opportunities had led to businesses opening that meet local demand.

She cited the neighbourhood of Fabelo, where residents and entrepreneurs have opened businesses in areas that a study had identified as needed or viable, including food retail, home meal delivery and gyms.

Businesses closing “because of staff shortages”

The Commerce Department’s work to raise the profile of local businesses also includes promotional campaigns and events. These include the Tapas Route, which aims to promote and revitalise the local hospitality sector. But staff shortages are limiting some businesses’ ability to take part. The councillor said that two establishments were unable to participate because they did not have enough staff, a problem she warned was spreading across different sectors and was already forcing some businesses to reduce their opening hours or services.

The situation is beginning to threaten the continued operation of some businesses. “Commercial premises are already closing for these reasons,” the municipal Commerce lead warned.

A mixed municipal market that will mark “a turning point” for the capital

The Municipal Market is also nearing completion, with the aim of having it fully operational by early 2027.

Before that can happen, a new regulatory ordinance must be approved. The Town Council plans to bring it before the September plenary meeting. It will set out how the mixed-use venue, with food stalls and restaurants, will operate. It will also regulate opening hours by day, allowing the market to stay open until 22:00 on Fridays and Saturdays.

The market will have 14 stalls, she noted. Eleven will be put out to tender, while the three butcher shops will retain their current concessions.

The Town Council intends to award the stalls before the end of the year.