Demonstrators say mass tourism is overwhelming the Atlantic archipelago.
Tens of 1000’s of demonstrators have hit the streets of Spain’s Canary Islands to demand adjustments to the mannequin of mass tourism they are saying is overwhelming the Atlantic archipelago.
An estimated 57,000 folks joined the protests, which started at noon (11:00 GMT) on Saturday, Spanish media experiences mentioned, citing the central authorities’s consultant within the islands.
Flag-waving crowds packed the streets of the primary cities throughout all the archipelago’s seven islands, chanting and whistling, and holding placards with slogans like: “The Canary Islands will not be up on the market!”; “A moratorium on tourism”; and “Respect my dwelling”.
“It’s not a message towards the vacationer, however towards a tourism mannequin that doesn’t profit this land and must be modified,” one of many protesters advised the Reuters information company through the march in Tenerife’s capital, Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Smaller marches had been held elsewhere within the island group and different Spanish cities, all of them organised by about two dozen environmental organisations forward of the height summer season vacation season.
The protests had been referred to as by some 20 social and environmental teams who say vacationer overcrowding perpetuates an financial mannequin that harms native residents and damages the surroundings.
They need the authorities to restrict the variety of guests and have proposed introducing an eco-tax to guard the surroundings, a moratorium on tourism and a clampdown on the sale of properties to non-residents.
“The authorities should instantly cease this corrupt and harmful mannequin that depletes the assets and makes the financial system extra precarious. The Canary Islands have limits and other people’s endurance [does], too,” Antonio Bullon, one of many protest leaders, advised Reuters.
‘We will’t preserve wanting away’
The archipelago of two.2 million folks was visited by practically 14 million overseas vacationers in 2023, up 13 p.c from the earlier yr, in accordance with official information.
Authorities within the islands are involved concerning the affect on locals. A draft legislation anticipated to move this yr – one which toughens the principles on quick lets – follows complaints from residents priced out of the housing market.
Canary Islands President Fernando Clavijo mentioned on Friday that he felt “proud” that the area was a number one Spanish vacationer vacation spot, however acknowledged that extra controls had been wanted because the sector continues to develop.
“We will’t preserve wanting away. In any other case, motels will proceed to open with none management,” he advised a press convention.
Anti-tourism protests have multiplied in current months throughout Spain, the world’s second-most visited nation, prompting authorities to attempt to reconcile the pursuits of locals and a profitable sector that accounts for 12.8 p.c of Spain’s financial system.
The Canary Islands, which lie off the northwestern coast of Africa, are recognized for his or her volcanic landscapes and year-round sunshine attracting tens of millions of tourists yearly, with 4 in 10 residents working in tourism – a sector that accounts for 36 p.c of the islands’ gross home product (GDP).
Earlier than the coronavirus pandemic introduced the worldwide journey trade to its knees in 2020, over-tourism protest actions had been already energetic in Spain, notably in Barcelona.
After journey restrictions had been lifted, tourism surged, with Spain welcoming a file 85.1 million guests final yr.
