Entry fee for national park visitors proposed

Will they be charged for their visit in the future ?

The commission of national parks which is part of the federation of municipalities of the Canary Islands (FECAM) has proposed the introduction of cover charges for tourists visiting national parks here. The unanimously approved motion was adopted at a meeting held last week, and will have to be tabled at the executive committee of FECAM.

The national park of Timanfaya on Lanzarote is already collecting fees from visitors and this measure could now be introduced at all national parks in the Canary Islands. The reason's given were that most similar parks around the world were charging visitors without any problem, and that the measure was essential to guarantee the maintenance, preservation and further development of these unique places. The autonomous region of the Canaries couldn't afford the luxury of providing free access anymore. Local residents would be exempt from the charges, however, according to the proposal.

The recent cutbacks in public spending might have something to do with it, I guess.