Second Safe Tourism Conference showcases strategies that make the Canary Islands one of the world’s safest destinations

José Manuel Sanabria, the Canary Islands Government’s Deputy Minister for Tourism, opened the Second Safe Tourism Conference on Thursday at the Elder Museum of Science and Technology in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. He stressed that “we need to highlight what safety means for the Canary Islands as a tourist destination”. He added: “Safety is the second most important reason tourists choose the archipelago for their holidays, after the climate. As a result, 72% of tourists return, while 20% have visited more than ten times and are true lovers of the Canary Islands.”

The Deputy Minister thanked the security forces for their work and said that “the Canary Islands are one of the safest destinations in the world thanks to their professionalism and to cooperation and data-sharing between the Canary Islands Government and public security professionals”. He also noted that “the security forces are part of the tourism ecosystem”.

The conference featured presentations by all the State security forces, including the Civil Guard, the National Police, the Local Police and the Canary Islands Police, as well as the Public Prosecutor’s Office’s international cooperation section.

Speakers addressed topics including “Cybercrime in the tourism industry: risks and defence strategies”. Civil Guard officer Carmen González said that “the tourism industry is an environment conducive to technology-related criminal activity. Most victims spend only a short time on the islands, which is why an online reporting channel called ONRED (National Office for the Electronic Receipt of Complaints) was set up. It was launched in July 2024”.

She explained that online reporting allows people to file a complaint without going to a police station in certain cases, including damage, theft, vehicle theft, fraud and fraudulent charges. The service is already available in German, Belgian, French, Italian, Dutch and Portuguese.

Civil Guard officer Daniel Benítez spoke about risks facing the tourism sector, including operational disruption and system hijacking, automated and AI-driven attacks, and the large-scale leak of confidential information. He advocated “cybersecurity training for all company employees and avoiding a false sense of security, because 100% security does not exist. Investment is needed in defence strategies, such as daily backups kept off the network, and security protocols to prevent scams involving a fake supplier or CEO”.

National Police officer Luis Miguel Malmierca spoke on “The Safe Tourism Plan: operational and practical aspects”. He referred to the Plan, approved in 2024, which aims to create the conditions needed for domestic and international tourists to return home feeling safe about their holidays.

Juan José Suárez Rivero, of the General Corps of the Canary Islands Police, spoke on “The Canary Islands’ regional police and safe tourism: the importance of monitoring and inspecting tourist activities”. He explained the measures taken to ensure that tourist activities meet safety requirements.

Over the past year, the Canary Islands Police have carried out 302 police operations and conducted 111 inspections of tourist establishments or holiday homes under a cooperation agreement signed with the Department of Tourism and Employment in 2024.

Local Police officer Eloy José Naranjo gave a presentation titled “Local Police and tourism: a safer destination”, explaining that “the local police are close to the public, and we usually already know the risks because we work in the area”.

The Deputy Minister for Tourism closed the event, noting that “with 18 million tourists a year, 28 million overnight stays and more than one million tourists a month, the Canary Islands stand out for safety worldwide. We will continue this cooperation so that we also remain one of the most competitive destinations in the world.”