The Canary Islands gained an eighth member recently, when the small island of La Graciosa, with just 721 residents, was added.
The island’s Popular Party and local citizen group Council of Citizenship long campaigned to become a part of the eight-island archipelago. They collected 4,000 signatures on a petition for recognition. There are 13 islands total in the region, but only seven were formally recognized by the government.
La Graciosa is anything but remote or unvisited. Some 25,000 tourists visit each year for its beaches, listed among the best in Spain.
But not everyone is happy for the recognition, with residents fearing the news could put the island in the spotlight, leading to even more tourist traffic. There are no paved roads on the island and no airport, so residents get around by bike. More visitors could tax the limited infrastructure.
Still, some were celebrating the move. “This is an act of justice and an historic day for La Graciosa,” said Joel Delgado, of the Popular Party.
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