Tenerife on 'brink of collapse' as Brits warned not to visit

North Wales Live

23-04-2025

Anti-tourism campaigners in Tenerife are set to ramp up their protests this summer after a record-breaking influx of tourists flocked to the Canary Islands last year. Determined to send a strong message, local people have vowed to disrupt public events, confront political figures and stage sit-ins at iconic tourist landmarks to underscore their demands for change.
The campaign is primed for its first major act with demonstrations planned for Sunday, May 18, which are expected to ripple throughout the island chain. The wave of activism sweeping through Tenerife is set to shift the Canary Islands' focus from being a prime tourist spot to embracing sustainable development, putting an end to profit-centric pressures.
Spearheaded by angry residents, the movement began in 2024 with tens of thousands marching through the streets demanding change, claiming the islands were "reaching its limit". Initially, the demonstrations took place in areas less reliant on tourism, such as the capital Santa Cruz, and were timed strategically before the peak tourist season. However, frustrated by what they saw as "lack of action" from local leaders, protesters shifted their focus.
In October, they descended upon tourist hotspots beloved by Brits, including Playa De Las Americas, aiming to force policy changes that would limit visitor numbers and second home ownership. Despite global attention on the initial protests, they failed to put off international tourists from descending on the Canary Islands.
Activist Ivan Cerdena Molina, part of the protest movement and the local environmental group ATAN, voiced his frustration that despite their efforts, tourism to the islands surged last year. Visitor numbers increased by a further two million in 2024, reports The Mirror.
In a scathing assessment of tourism in the Canary Islands, Ivan detailed the islands' struggles amid swelling tourist numbers: "We had 16 million tourists [in the Canaries] in 2023 and 18 million in 2024. In 2025, the number is increasing again. The government didn't do anything; it just spoke nice words with no real action."
Addressing British holidaymakers considering a trip to the Canary Islands, Ivan's advice was stark: "The situation is really critical, no-one who wants to enjoy holidays in peace, would come to a collapsed and congested island. It's simple, there are too many people everywhere."
As local frustration continues to grow, Ivan added: "Local people are really tired and angry, they are showing it. If we can ask something, it would be, please don't come, we cannot take it anymore."
Amid mounting tensions, Ivan and fellow campaigners plan a significant protest against over-tourism as peak season looms in the renowned hotspots of the Canaries. They made their intentions clear in a press release entitled "the Canaries have a limit", signalling an escalation in their campaign.
The proclamation confirmed a new aggressive stance: "From now on, we will take our fight to the very spaces where their predatory model is perpetuated," protesters said in a statement. The activists added: "The Canary Islands can no longer be a postcard backdrop for the enjoyment of a privileged few.
"We are the Canarian people - a people who will not give up until we achieve the change we deserve. On May 18, the fight continues in the streets. What comes next will be impossible to ignore."
Additionally, Tenerife is bracing for demonstrations ahead of a major tourism protest forecasted for Mallorca on May Day, Thursday, May 1. The rally aims to showcase widespread discontent with the Balearic government's stance on housing and tourism policies.
With thousands anticipated to pour into the streets, trade unions are prepping for what might be "the most militant demonstration in years."