APAPMA Opposes Canillo Cable Car Over Mountain Disneyfication

The Andorran Association for the Protection of Animals, Plants and the Environment (APAPMA) has voiced strong opposition to a proposed cable car in Canillo parish that would connect to the Tibetan bridge in the Armiana area of Riu Valley.

In a social media statement shared with media outlets on Thursday, APAPMA criticised the project as furthering a trend of "Disneyfication" in Andorra's mountains. The group accused certain administrations of pursuing economic gains from the public natural heritage through paid attractions designed to draw more visitors.

"We have seen for years how some administrations have embarked on a dynamic of Disneyfication of our mountains and natural heritage to extract economic returns, at the expense of a patrimony that belongs to everyone," the statement read. APAPMA made clear its rejection of the Armiana cable car, arguing that the country does not need to expand this model of attractions aimed at increasing tourist numbers and revenues.

The organisation repeated a demand it previously made regarding the Carroi cable car project. Should the Canillo initiative go ahead, APAPMA called for a binding clause requiring the commune or the awarded company to restore the land to its original state upon closure, including the full removal of all infrastructure in accordance with current legislation.

Canillo authorities have not responded to the statement.