Tourism protests in the Canary Islands: what are they about?

Holding signs reading: “People live here” and “We don’t want to see our island die”, demonstrators demanded that the tourism sector, which generates 35 percent of the Canary Islands’ GDP, be changed.

“It is not a message against the tourist, but against a tourism model that does not benefit this country and must be changed,” one of the demonstrators told Reuters during the march in Tenerife’s capital Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

Just over 20 environmental organizations coordinated smaller marches around the archipelago and in other Spanish cities before the peak summer period.

The protests focused on the rise in short-term vacation rentals and hotel construction, which were driving up housing costs for locals.

According to government estimates, the archipelago of 2.2 million people welcomed almost 14 million foreign visitors in 2023, a 13 percent increase from the previous year.

Protesting organizations say that to ease pressure on the islands’ environment, infrastructure and housing stock, local authorities should temporarily limit the number of visitors and impose restrictions on foreigners buying property.

Following protests from homeowners priced out of the property market, a bill tightening rules on short-term rentals is expected to be passed this year.

Canary Islands President Fernando Clavijo said on Friday he was “proud” of the territory’s reputation as a top travel destination in Spain, but he also noted that additional regulation was needed as the sector grew.

At a press conference he said: “We cannot continue to look away. Otherwise, hotels will continue to open without any control.”

Additional reporting by Reuters.