The Las Palmas de Gran Canaria City Council has deeply regretted the decision by the company Go Beyond to cancel the 21st edition of the Las Canteras Sand Nativity Scene. The Councilor for Tourism and president of the municipal company Turismo LPA, Pedro Quevedo, expressed his sorrow at the suspension of this emblematic Christmas event for the city.
Quevedo conveyed the "uninterrupted support and budgetary effort" that both Turismo LPA and the City Council have made since the initiative began two decades ago. "We sincerely regret the decision, and at the same time, I would like to express respect for the work that the event promoters have always carried out," he stated.
The councilor highlighted the "extraordinary budgetary effort" made by Turismo LPA, expressing confidence that the updated municipal contribution, along with the support of other administrations and private entities, would have been sufficient to resume the project. He reiterated the Council's willingness to continue working towards a Christmas offering of this nature.
Quevedo also confirmed that Turismo LPA will maintain aid to the five social canteens in the capital, concerned that the cancellation of the Nativity Scene might affect the solidarity collection from visitors, which last year amounted to 10,500 euros, plus a contribution of 6,000 euros from La Caixa Foundation. "We will continue to provide this municipal aid to collaborate with the fundamental work these institutions carry out," he noted.
The councilor recalled the rigor and transparency in managing public resources, pointing out that the Sand Nativity Scene is, "by far, the event to which Turismo LPA allocates the largest financial contribution" among all the initiatives it supports in the city.
Turismo LPA reports that, after promoting the project independently in 2006 and consolidating a shared financing model with other public administrations and private sponsors from 2008 onwards, the municipal contribution has grown progressively. Since 2024, the criterion has been established to increase the annual contribution based on the annual CPI.
