British tourists are leaving Lanzarote and Tenerife behind after a little-known change to EU rules

British holidaymakers have reportedly “abandoned” their properties in the Canary Islands, including popular destinations such as Lanzarote and Tenerife, following a change in European Union rules. The new regulation limits British citizens to spending only 90 consecutive days in Spain, a rule that came into effect years after the Brexit vote.

This has led to frustration among British travelers who had moved to the Canary Islands for a fresh start. This development follows recent protests in the Canary Islands against tourism, with thousands of locals taking to the streets to declare that the region is “not for sale”.

Residents are demanding a temporary limit on the number of tourists in an effort to curb the rise in short-term vacation rentals and hotel construction, which they say is raising housing costs for locals. Signs reading “We don’t want our island to die”, “Stop hotels” and “Canary Islands not for sale” were visible as thousands marched through the streets.

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“It is not a message against the tourist, but against a tourism model that does not benefit this country and must be changed,” said a protester in Tenerife’s capital Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Antonio Bullon, who took part in the protests, added: “The authorities must immediately put an end to this corrupt and destructive model that is draining resources and making the economy more insecure,” reports Birmingham Live.

“The Canary Islands have limits and also the patience of the people.” Meanwhile, the islands’ president expressed pride on Friday that the region is one of Spain’s top tourist destinations, while admitting that stricter controls are necessary.

Despite having a local population of two million, the Canary Islands attract significantly more visitors every year.