Canillo Eyes €1M Investment in Andorra National Park Despite Cost Warnings

Canillo's senior consul, Jordi Alcobé, forecasts investments of up to €1 million in the national park project agreed last summer with the government and Ordino parish. While warning of the risk of it becoming "a bottomless pit," he maintains that greater spending will yield economic and territorial benefits, as "the more you invest, the more return you'll get."

In an interview with the Andorran News Agency (ANA), Alcobé outlined Canillo's starting commitment of €150,000 for inter-parish trail signage, natural route mapping, and promotion to locals and tourists. He anticipates this rising beyond €500,000—and possibly to €1 million—with add-ons such as a mountain guiding school and supporting facilities. These could include enhanced public transport, valley management systems, guiding services, tourist offices at entry points, and an interpretation centre focused on mountains, snow, or Romanesque heritage. Core parish tasks like forest management, trail building and upkeep, access improvements, and water resources will involve modest direct costs and stay under local control, he emphasized.

The government will facilitate through the Ministry of Environment, Agriculture and Livestock, offering grants, promotion, and oversight of protected species or activities. Parishes will hold onto primary duties. "These are parish matters and we won't lose them," Alcobé stated, insisting Canillo will not relinquish authority over its mountains, peaks, valleys, and forests, as that would undermine the park for the parish.

Key challenges include directing visitors across Canillo's expansive natural zones, with multiple access points: Mereig to Casamanya, Montaup to Roca Negra and Anquirnès, Pont Tibetà to l'Armiana, Coma de Ransol, Bordes d'Envalira, Incles Valley, the river valley, and Canillo plains. Alcobé seeks to guide flows to ideal paths, relieving pressure on Incles Valley, which risks "dying of success" from crowds and traffic.

Ordino's senior consul, Maria del Mar Coma, pushed back on Monday against Alcobé's cost concerns, calling the park "an investment in the general interest." Drawing on 25 years with the Sorteny Natural Park, where Ordino spends €300,000 annually, she highlighted social and environmental returns: tourist stays boosting the parish and country, plus benefits for health, forests, and fire prevention. "It's true we invest €300,000 each year, but we also get many tourists who stay in the parish or country," she told El Periòdic. Coma views initial infrastructure—like forest clearing—as minimal and socially profitable, with the project evolving naturally. She confirmed ongoing legislative work, with parish updates and meetings this week with the environment minister ahead of a potential summer parliamentary push. Both parishes agreed from the start to retain territorial powers.