Santiago del Teide is looking to spread the benefits of tourism beyond its busy coastal resorts with a new project designed to strengthen local businesses across the entire municipality.
Known as “From the Coastal Arc to the Inland Heart”, the initiative aims to transform Santiago del Teide into a Smart Commercial Destination, using digital technology and strategic planning to encourage visitors to explore both the coastline and the traditional villages further inland.
The project is backed by funding from the Government of the Canary Islands and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
Bringing More Visitors Inland
While areas such as Los Gigantes and Puerto de Santiago attract thousands of visitors every year, the council wants to encourage more people to discover the shops, cafés and businesses located in the municipality’s quieter inland communities.
The idea is to create stronger links between the two areas, helping to distribute visitor spending more evenly while supporting sustainable local economic growth.
At the same time, the project is intended to improve the experience for both residents and tourists.
Three Key Projects
The modernisation programme will be delivered through three main initiatives.
The first is the creation of a Commercial Strategy and Innovation Plan for 2026 to 2030, which will act as a roadmap for the future development of the municipality’s business sector.
The second focuses on helping local businesses modernise by improving:
- Shop presentation
- Digital services
- Sustainability
- Customer experience
Businesses will receive support to increase their visibility and become more competitive in an increasingly digital marketplace.
A Digital Passport to Explore the Municipality
Perhaps the most interesting part of the project is the planned Digital Commercial Passport.
This new online platform will encourage visitors to discover businesses across Santiago del Teide by following themed routes and taking advantage of incentives designed to promote shopping and dining throughout the municipality.
By linking coastal resorts with inland villages, the council hopes to encourage visitors to venture beyond the traditional tourist hotspots.
Investing in the Future
The project forms part of a wider strategy to modernise commerce across the Canary Islands and promote innovation within local economies.
If successful, Santiago del Teide hopes to create a more connected, sustainable and digitally enabled business community while giving visitors even more reasons to explore everything the municipality has to offer.