Pictures as thousands protest against tourism in Canary Islands

Tens of thousands of people have marched across the Canary Islands in Spain in protest against mass tourism. The protestors want to limit the number of holidaymakers allowed to visit the Spanish islands in a bid to protect the environment and local residents.

14million people visited the seven main Canary Islands last year, putting huge pressure on local resources. The number is six times the resident population of the islands. Tourism supports 40% of employment on the islands.

Protesters in Santa Cruz de Tenerife carried placards and banners reading “Canaries have a limit”. Protester Lydia Morales told the BBC: “The major problem is that it’s the model of massive tourism that is intransigent in the island… (for) decades, and it’s just destroying the island… and the life of the residents here.

“We are feeling we’re being pushed away, our priorities are not taken in consideration.”

There were protests on the major islands and on the Spanish mainland on Saturday. Campaigners blame tourism for high levels of poverty in the Canary Islands – where 34% of Canary Islanders are at risk of poverty or social exclusion.

Large swatches of Spain popular with tourists are also in a state of severe drought as water is used for tourists and swimming pools.

Protesters are demanding a halt to all tourism development projects.

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TENERIFE, SPAIN – APRIL 20: Thousands of people demonstrate against tourism policies on the island of Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain on April 20, 2024. In recent years, tourism policy in the Canary Islands has left little room for the local population. Currently, it is difficult to find a place to rent or buy a house due to the oversupply of tourist rentals. (Photo by Andres Gutierrez/Anadolu via Getty Images)

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Thousands of people demonstrate to demand a tourism model respectful for the islands environment and their residents, on the Canary Island of Tenerife, on April 20, 2024. The signs read ‘Paradise can’t be made of cement’ and ‘I don’t want to emigrate again’. Tens of thousands of demonstrators hit the streets across Spain’s Canary Islands on Saturday to demand changes to the model of mass tourism they say is overwhelming the Atlantic archipelago. (Photo by DESIREE MARTIN / AFP) (Photo by DESIREE MARTIN/AFP via Getty Images)

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SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, TENERIFE, SPAIN – APRIL 20: Several people protest with placards during a demonstration against the tourism model, on 20 April, 2024 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. The eight Canary Islands unite today to protest against tourist overcrowding. This is the first joint demonstration in the history of the whole archipelago, is convened by twenty associations under the slogan ‘Canarias has a limit’. The demonstrators demand an eco-tax, a tourist moratorium and a better redistribution of income. In addition to the Canary Islands, the organization has called protests in other Spanish and European cities such as Granada, Barcelona, Madrid, Berlin and London. (Photo By Europa Press Canarias via Getty Images)

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SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, TENERIFE, SPAIN – APRIL 20: Several people protest with a banner during a demonstration against the tourism model, on 20 April, 2024 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. The eight Canary Islands unite today to protest against tourist overcrowding. This is the first joint demonstration in the history of the whole archipelago, is convened by twenty associations under the slogan ‘Canarias has a limit’. The demonstrators demand an eco-tax, a tourist moratorium and a better redistribution of income. In addition to the Canary Islands, the organization has called protests in other Spanish and European cities such as Granada, Barcelona, Madrid, Berlin and London. (Photo By Europa Press Canarias via Getty Images)

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Protesters demonstrate to demand a tourism model respectful for the islands environment and their residents, on the Canary Island of Tenerife, on April 20, 2024. Tens of thousands of demonstrators hit the streets across Spain’s Canary Islands on Saturday to demand changes to the model of mass tourism they say is overwhelming the Atlantic archipelago. (Photo by DESIREE MARTIN / AFP) (Photo by DESIREE MARTIN/AFP via Getty Images)

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Thousands of people demonstrate to demand a tourism model respectful for the islands environment and their residents, on the Canary Island of Tenerife, on April 20, 2024. Tens of thousands of demonstrators hit the streets across Spain’s Canary Islands on Saturday to demand changes to the model of mass tourism they say is overwhelming the Atlantic archipelago. (Photo by DESIREE MARTIN / AFP) (Photo by DESIREE MARTIN/AFP via Getty Images)

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SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, TENERIFE, SPAIN – APRIL 20: Dozens of people protest with placards during a demonstration against the tourism model on April 20, 2024, in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. The eight Canary Islands unite today to protest against tourist overcrowding. This is the first joint demonstration in the history of the whole archipelago, is convened by twenty associations under the slogan ‘Canarias has a limit’. The demonstrators demand an eco-tax, a tourist moratorium and a better redistribution of income. In addition to the Canary Islands, the organization has called protests in other Spanish and European cities such as Granada, Barcelona, Madrid, Berlin and London. (Photo By Europa Press Canarias via Getty Images)

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Thousands of people demonstrate to demand a tourism model respectful for the islands environment and their residents, on the Canary Island of Tenerife, on April 20, 2024. The sign reads ‘I defend today the roots I owe my parents’. Tens of thousands of demonstrators hit the streets across Spain’s Canary Islands on Saturday to demand changes to the model of mass tourism they say is overwhelming the Atlantic archipelago. (Photo by DESIREE MARTIN / AFP) (Photo by DESIREE MARTIN/AFP via Getty Images)

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A child holds a sign reading ‘I want to enjoy our paradise’ as thousands of people demonstrate to demand a tourism model respectful for the islands environment and their residents, on the Canary Island of Tenerife, on April 20, 2024. Tens of thousands of demonstrators hit the streets across Spain’s Canary Islands on Saturday to demand changes to the model of mass tourism they say is overwhelming the Atlantic archipelago. (Photo by DESIREE MARTIN / AFP) (Photo by DESIREE MARTIN/AFP via Getty Images)

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Protesters hold signs reading ‘All my neighbours are tourists’ during a demonstration to demand a tourism model respectful for the islands environment and their residents, on the Canary Island of Tenerife, on April 20, 2024. Tens of thousands of demonstrators hit the streets across Spain’s Canary Islands on Saturday to demand changes to the model of mass tourism they say is overwhelming the Atlantic archipelago. (Photo by DESIREE MARTIN / AFP) (Photo by DESIREE MARTIN/AFP via Getty Images)

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Thousands of people demonstrate to demand a tourism model respectful for the islands environment and their residents, on the Canary Island of Tenerife, on April 20, 2024. The signs read ‘Paradise can’t be made of cement’ and ‘Canarias is paradise for tourists and gangsters’. Tens of thousands of demonstrators hit the streets across Spain’s Canary Islands on Saturday to demand changes to the model of mass tourism they say is overwhelming the Atlantic archipelago. (Photo by DESIREE MARTIN / AFP) (Photo by DESIREE MARTIN/AFP via Getty Images)

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Thousands of people demonstrate to demand a tourism model respectful for the islands environment and their residents, on the Canary Island of Tenerife, on April 20, 2024. The sign reads ‘No dumping, natural treatment’. Tens of thousands of demonstrators hit the streets across Spain’s Canary Islands on Saturday to demand changes to the model of mass tourism they say is overwhelming the Atlantic archipelago. (Photo by DESIREE MARTIN / AFP) (Photo by DESIREE MARTIN/AFP via Getty Images)

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Thousands of people demonstrate to demand a tourism model respectful for the islands environment and their residents, on the Canary Island of Tenerife, on April 20, 2024. The sign reads ‘The cow has dried’. Tens of thousands of demonstrators hit the streets across Spain’s Canary Islands on Saturday to demand changes to the model of mass tourism they say is overwhelming the Atlantic archipelago. (Photo by DESIREE MARTIN / AFP) (Photo by DESIREE MARTIN/AFP via Getty Images)

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Protesters march during a demonstration to demand a tourism model respectful for the islands environment and their residents, on the Canary Island of Tenerife, on April 20, 2024. Tens of thousands of demonstrators hit the streets across Spain’s Canary Islands on Saturday to demand changes to the model of mass tourism they say is overwhelming the Atlantic archipelago. (Photo by DESIREE MARTIN / AFP) (Photo by DESIREE MARTIN/AFP via Getty Images)

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Thousands of people demonstrate to demand a tourism model respectful for the islands environment and their residents, on the Canary Island of Tenerife, on April 20, 2024. The sign reads ‘Without ecology no economy’. Tens of thousands of demonstrators hit the streets across Spain’s Canary Islands on Saturday to demand changes to the model of mass tourism they say is overwhelming the Atlantic archipelago. (Photo by DESIREE MARTIN / AFP) (Photo by DESIREE MARTIN/AFP via Getty Images)

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A protester holds a sign reading ‘I have nowhere to go when my earth will be destroyed’ during a demonstration to demand a tourism model respectful for the islands environment and their residents, on the Canary Island of Tenerife, on April 20, 2024. Tens of thousands of demonstrators hit the streets across Spain’s Canary Islands on Saturday to demand changes to the model of mass tourism they say is overwhelming the Atlantic archipelago. (Photo by DESIREE MARTIN / AFP) (Photo by DESIREE MARTIN/AFP via Getty Images)

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SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, TENERIFE, SPAIN – APRIL 20: A man plays the drum during a demonstration against the tourism model, on 20 April, 2024 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. The eight Canary Islands unite today to protest against tourist overcrowding. This is the first joint demonstration in the history of the whole archipelago, is convened by twenty associations under the slogan ‘Canarias has a limit’. The demonstrators demand an eco-tax, a tourist moratorium and a better redistribution of income. In addition to the Canary Islands, the organization has called protests in other Spanish and European cities such as Granada, Barcelona, Madrid, Berlin and London. (Photo By Europa Press Canarias via Getty Images)

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SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, TENERIFE, SPAIN – APRIL 20: Two dogs next to protest signs during a demonstration against the tourism model, on 20 April, 2024 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. The eight Canary Islands unite today to protest against tourist overcrowding. This is the first joint demonstration in the history of the whole archipelago, is convened by twenty associations under the slogan ‘Canarias has a limit’. The demonstrators demand an eco-tax, a tourist moratorium and a better redistribution of income. In addition to the Canary Islands, the organization has called protests in other Spanish and European cities such as Granada, Barcelona, Madrid, Berlin and London. (Photo By Europa Press Canarias via Getty Images)

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SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, TENERIFE, SPAIN – APRIL 20: Two men protest during a demonstration against the tourism model, on 20 April, 2024 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. The eight Canary Islands unite today to protest against tourist overcrowding. This is the first joint demonstration in the history of the whole archipelago, is convened by twenty associations under the slogan ‘Canarias has a limit’. The demonstrators demand an eco-tax, a tourist moratorium and a better redistribution of income. In addition to the Canary Islands, the organization has called protests in other Spanish and European cities such as Granada, Barcelona, Madrid, Berlin and London. (Photo By Europa Press Canarias via Getty Images)

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