Fuerteventura’s 2026 Distinguished Tourism Awards gala to be held in Betancuria at the Tourism Board’s proposal

The Fuerteventura Island Council, through the Fuerteventura Tourism Board, will hold the 2026 Distinguished Tourism Awards gala on Friday 25 September. The event will take place in Betancuria’s historic centre, in Plaza de Santa María de Betancuria, from 8.30pm to 11.30pm. It will bring together leading representatives of the island’s tourism sector to recognise the work of those who have contributed to the destination’s development, quality and sustainability.

Betancuria has not hosted a gala of this kind since 2009. It is one of the municipalities in the Canary Islands with the greatest concentration of heritage, including a Historic Site declared an Asset of Cultural Interest in 1979. Since 2020, it has also been listed in the catalogue of Spain’s Most Beautiful Villages.

The Distinguished Awards, known as the Golden Beaches Awards, are Fuerteventura’s leading institutional recognition linked to tourism and have been awarded without interruption since 1986.

This year’s award recipients are:

Golden Beaches Award in the Business category: Agualoe S.L., a Fuerteventura-based company recognised for its contribution to the quality and excellence of the island’s tourism sector.

Golden Beaches Award in the Individual Career category: Mr Raúl Dávila Falcón, in recognition of a distinguished professional career spanning many years in the service of tourism in Fuerteventura.

Golden Beaches Award in the Fuerteventura Blue Destination category: Mr Sönke Schallmey, in recognition of his commitment to preserving the island’s marine environment and beaches.

Golden Beaches Award in the Visitor category: Mr Uwe Krug, in recognition of his loyalty as a tourist who has chosen Fuerteventura as his holiday destination year after year.

Special Mention from the Fuerteventura Tourism Board: Mr Santiago Travieso Quintana, posthumously, in recognition of his contribution to tourism in Fuerteventura.

Fuerteventura Island Council president Lola García said: “It is important to recognise the people, businesses and groups whose work delivers a quality, sustainable service, with respect for our way of life and our territory at its heart.”

“Those honoured make Fuerteventura an example of a tourism destination, with this year’s particularly significant special mention going to Santiago Travieso, a leading journalistic figure for Fuerteventura,” García added.

Fuerteventura Island Council Tourism Councillor and vice-president of the Fuerteventura Tourism Board Marlene Figueroa said: “The Distinguished Awards are when the island recognises those who have done the best work. Each award represents years of hard work, commitment and love for Fuerteventura, and that deserves to be celebrated.”

The councillor also said: “This year, the Special Mention has particular significance. Recognising Santiago Travieso Quintana posthumously is a way of honouring his legacy and remembering that Fuerteventura’s tourism is also the story of the people who built it. That deserves to be celebrated, but these annual events are also an opportunity to showcase our heritage offering in emblematic settings. This year, we are doing so in Betancuria, an unmissable place for visitors to discover the island’s identity and roots.”

With this gala, the Fuerteventura Tourism Board reaffirms its commitment to recognising the talent and dedication of those who work every day to strengthen the island’s position as a leading tourism destination in Europe.