The Council of Ministers approved today, at the proposal of the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Reyes Maroto, a package of direct aid amounting to 17,625,000 euros to support the self-employed and SMEs affected by the volcano and to boost the tourism sector. The initiative includes a 300-euro tourist voucher program to stimulate trips to the island of La Palma throughout 2022.
“The priority of the Government once normality is reached on La Palma is to contribute to a rapid economic and social recovery of the island after the disaster caused by the volcano. With this new aid package, we intend to stimulate tourist visits to La Palma, while supporting the self-employed and small and medium-sized companies, especially those affected by the volcano, favoring the creation of new businesses and the growth or recovery of already existing. From the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism we work to guarantee the future of our beautiful island, which is a major challenge. We want La Palma to be an island of opportunities ”, has valued Minister Reyes Maroto.
Special plan for tourist recovery
The aid package approved today includes a subsidy to the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands of 4,625,000 euros that will be used to promote tourism on the island once the eruption of the volcano ends. Specifically, a 300-euro tourist voucher program will be launched through virtual debit cards for exclusive consumption on the island of La Palma throughout 2022. With this measure, which has a contribution of 3.3 M € from the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism and an equivalent amount from the Government of the Canary Islands, it is intended to encourage tourist trips to the island when normal conditions are met and to support the tourism sector, which is one of the activities that provides the most wealth and employment contributes on La Palma.
Support for tourism on the island will be completed with the launch of a line of special incentives for the improvement of national and international air connectivity on La Palma during 2022. Thus, an item of 1,325,000 euros is allocated to subsidize the seats scheduled by airlines to fly to the 'pretty island'. The Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands may co-finance this line of aid.
Support for the revitalization of the self-employed and SMEs
In support of the self-employed and SMEs, an item of 10 million euros is allocated to subsidize direct aid for the creation of new companies, the expansion of an existing establishment or of the productive capacity and the diversification of the production of an establishment in new additional products during the years 2022, 2023 and 2024. Direct aid may also be aimed at allowing the restart of business activity in the case of those businesses that have been directly or indirectly affected by the volcano.
The aid package approved today by the Council of Ministers also includes an investment of up to 3 million euros to subsidize the expenses of preparation and the celebration of the international festival of science, art and music Starmus Festival in its edition of 2022.
