Urgent warning for Irish tourists in Spain as exact date & time furious locals will take to streets for protest revealed

The Irish Sun

16-05-2025

IRISH people heading to the sun-soaked Canary Islands this weekend are in for a shock as furious locals plot mass protests.
Holiday hotspots like
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A huge protest in Santa Cruz in Tenerife last year
Credit: EPA/ALBERTO VALDES
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A protester holds a sign reading 'Canary Islands have a limit' as thousands marched on Las Americas beach during a demonstration against mass tourism last year
Credit: Getty Images
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Locals have told how overtourism has reduced their quality of life
Credit: Getty Images
Activists have vowed to
Canarias tiene un límite, meaning The Canaries Have a Limit, declared: "From now on, we will take our fight to the very spaces where their predatory model is perpetuated.
"We will boycott public events, confront political leaders during their appearances and occupy symbolic tourist spaces to make it clear that we will not stop until real change is achieved."
Overcrowding has become the main problem in
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But locals have also said overtourism has reduced their quality of life, increased the cost of living and brought in cheap, "low-quality" tourists who do not contribute to the local economy.
Hostile messages against foreigners and tourists written on public walls have been on the rise - sparking fears that anti-tourist movements
And, after tourists were targeted with water guns and shouted at by protestors in demonstrations earlier this year, some holidaymakers are worried they could be targeted if they get caught up in a protest.
Despite the chaos, unions have urged tourists not to cancel their holidays.
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They have insisted that the anger is aimed at the system, not sunseekers - but protests are set to escalate fast.
Thousands of anti-tourist protesters flood Spanish hols hotspots & call on mob to super glue holiday rental locks
Canarias tiene un límite said: "This cry, which reflects the feelings of a people tired of being ignored and mistreated, will be the beginning of a new stage of struggle: firmer, more direct, more uncomfortable for those who refuse to listen to us and take real measures."
The
PROTEST LOCATIONS AND TIMES
THE protests on Sunday are planned to take place across 15 areas throughout the Canary Islands.
Tourists have been urged to stay away from the demonstrations.
The primary protest locations and times for May 18 are:
Tenerife – Plaza Weyler, Santa Cruz, 11am
Gran Canaria – Auditorio Alfredo Kraus, Las Palmas, 11am
Lanzarote – Quiosco de la Música, Arrecife, 11am
Fuerteventura – Plaza de la Iglesia, Puerto del Rosario, 11am
El Hierro – Consejería de Turismo, Valverde, 11am
La Palma – Plaza de La Alameda, Santa Cruz de La Palma, 11am
La Gomera – Plaza de Las Américas, San Sebastián, 11:00am
Alfonso Cabello, spokesperson for the regional government, said: 'We're doing this the Canary Islands way — extending a hand and listening to everyone.'
The new legal framework, which will set tougher planning and building standards, tighten rules on holiday rentals and introduce laws on campsites and outdoor tourism, is expected to roll out over the coming months.
Protests have also been scheduled across other areas of Spain rising up against mass tourism.
Locals on Spain's mainlands and island will take to streets on June 15 for huge demonstrations that thousands are expected to attend.
MORE PROTESTS IN SUMMER
The cities
It is understood that some
- potentially causing flight chaos - and blockade buses carrying tourists.
Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs has previously warned Irish sunseekers that public gatherings and demonstrations in Spain can at times take place with "little or no warning".
A spokesperson said: "We recommend that you stay clear of demonstrations and follow the advice of the local authorities.
"Protests may cause disruption to transport and other services. Be prepared to adjust your travel plans at short notice if necessary, and allow yourself extra time for your journey.
"You should also check for travel updates or transport delays before and during your trip to Spain."
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A man with the Canary Island flag painted on his face protests during a march against tourism
Credit: AP Photo/Miguel Velasco Almendral
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A protester holds a placard reading 'Invasion does not come in 'patera', it comes by plane'
Credit: Getty Images
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Protestors gathered in Gran Canaria last year