This year’s event will take place in Betancuria’s historic old town, highlighting its heritage potential as part of the island’s tourism offering
The Cabildo de Fuerteventura, through the Island Tourism Board (Patronato Insular de Turismo), will hold the Fuerteventura Tourism Distinguished Awards Gala 2026 on Friday 25 September. The event will take place in Betancuria’s historic old town, in the Plaza de Santa María de Betancuria, from 8.30pm to 11.30pm, bringing together the island’s leading tourism industry figures to honour those who have contributed to the destination’s development, quality and sustainability.
Betancuria has not hosted a gala of this kind since 2009. It is one of the municipalities in the Canary Islands with the greatest concentration of heritage sites, its historic centre having been declared a Site of Cultural Interest (Bien de Interés Cultural) in 1979, and since 2020 it has featured on the list of Spain’s Most Beautiful Villages.
The Distinguished Awards, known as the Playas de Oro (Golden Beaches), are the main institutional accolade linked to tourism in Fuerteventura and have been presented without interruption since 1986.
This year’s winners are:
Playas de Oro, Business category: Agualoe S.L., a majorera company recognised for its contribution to quality and excellence in the island’s tourism sector.
Playas de Oro, Individual Career category: Mr Raúl Dávila Falcón, in recognition of an outstanding professional career sustained over time in the service of Fuerteventura tourism.
Playas de Oro, Fuerteventura Blue Destination category: Mr Sönke Schallmey, in recognition of his commitment to conserving the island’s marine environment and beaches.
Playas de Oro, Customer category: Mr Uwe Krug, in recognition of his loyalty as a tourist who has chosen Fuerteventura as his holiday destination year after year.
Special Mention from the Fuerteventura Island Tourism Board: Mr Santiago Travieso Quintana, awarded posthumously, in recognition of his contribution to Fuerteventura tourism.
According to the President of the Cabildo de Fuerteventura, Lola García, “it is important to recognise the people, businesses and groups who, through their work, provide a quality and sustainable service, placing respect for our way of life and our land above all else.”
“These winners make Fuerteventura an example of what a tourist destination can be, with a particularly significant special mention this year for Santiago Travieso, a leading figure in journalism for Fuerteventura,” García added.
The Cabildo de Fuerteventura’s Tourism Councillor and Vice-President of the Island Tourism Board, Marlene Figueroa, stressed that “the Distinguished Awards are the moment when the island recognises those who have done it best. Each award represents years of work, commitment and love for Fuerteventura, and that deserves to be celebrated.”
The councillor also noted that “this year the Special Mention carries particular significance. Honouring the late Santiago Travieso Quintana posthumously is a way of paying tribute to his legacy and remembering that Fuerteventura’s tourism is also the story of the people who built it,” adding that this deserves to be celebrated, but that such annual events are also an opportunity to showcase the island’s heritage in iconic settings — as is the case this year in Betancuria, an essential stop on the island for discovering our identity and roots.
With this gala, the Fuerteventura Island Tourism Board reaffirms its commitment to recognising the talent and dedication of those who, day after day, help position the island as a leading tourist destination on the European stage.
