As anti-tourism protests erupt across the Canary Islands this weekend, the call for visitors to "stop coming" highlights the growing frustration over the impact of mass tourism on local communities and environments. Organised marches, especially in Tenerife, are set to draw up to 132,000 participants, according to activists. These demonstrations are spearheaded by locals who argue that the influx of tourists is straining critical infrastructure and harming the natural landscape.
Ivan, an activist with the local environmental group ATAN, articulated the concerns that resonate deeply within the community. He described the situation as "critical," pointing out that the booming tourism industry, primarily driven by European visitors, has exacerbated issues such as public transport congestion, waste management failures, and water shortages. These challenges stem from the rapid increase in tourist numbers, which reached nearly 16 million in the Canary Islands last year, dwarfed only by the local population of approximately 2.2 million.
The sentiment is echoed throughout Spain, where a backlash against mass tourism is intensifying into a broader movement. Protests in cities like Barcelona, as well as across the coastal regions, have wielded significant media attention. In Barcelona, for instance, demonstrators have resorted to playful yet pointed measures, such as dousing tourists with water pistols while chanting "tourists go home." This reflects a growing trend of dissatisfaction not just in the Canary Islands, but across popular destinations facing similar issues of overpopulation and gentrification. Spanish tourism, which is a critical component of the economy, accounting for 12-13% of GDP, is now at a crossroads, as locals demand a radical overhaul of the tourism model.
Supporting the urgent aspiration for a fairer tourism framework, recent protests have resulted in the formulation of ten definitive demands by residents. These include an immediate halt to what are known as "illegal hotels" and a push for a new tax system targeting tourists. The potential implementation of a controversial tourist tax in Tenerife underscores these calls for change and addresses the critics’ accusations of prioritising profits over local welfare.
Local leaders are increasingly recognising the need for a sustainable approach. The President of the Canary Islands has signalled support for regulations that could protect housing and landscapes while balancing the economic benefits tourism brings. However, the challenge remains substantial, as immediate political action appears reluctance.
Environmental organisations like Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth are voicing their support for locals, who remind the public that they are not anti-tourism, but rather advocates for a tourism model that respects and involves local communities. The local population's concerns are compounded by economic data, which reveals that 33.8% of residents in the Canary Islands face poverty or social exclusion—the highest rate outside Andalucía.
As TUI, a leading travel operator, pivots to invest in staff housing instead of further hotel development, the company's CEO, Sebastian Ebel, indicated an awareness of the discontent among residents, though he defended the tourism industry's contributions. Despite such initiatives, many locals remain skeptical. They argue that measures focusing solely on employee housing do not address the underlying issues of overdevelopment and resource depletion.
Amidst this backdrop of unrest, protesters in the Canary Islands hold onto a vision of a more sustainable and controlled tourism framework, hoping to reclaim their islands. Their message resonates beyond the archipelago, connecting with similar movements motivated by the need for sustainable development across other tourist hotspots in Europe. The urgent call for action serves as a stark reminder that while tourism bolsters economies, it can simultaneously threaten the very fabric of local communities if left unchecked.
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Source: Noah Wire Services