Canary Island chaos as anti-tourist protests erupts in 15 areas
Demonstrators are getting ready to flock to the streets en masse, calling for huge reform to the Canary Island's tourism model. Here's exactly where the protestors will occur
Thousands of fed-up locals across the Canary Islands will take to the streets this weekend - demanding drastic change to the 'unsustainable' tourism model. It follows the record-breaking number of visitors that flocked to the archipelago last year, and the subsequent string of demonstrations.
After blaming holidaymakers for worsening Spain's housing crisis, activists, and members of the Canarian diaspora abroad will gather en masse on Sunday, May 18 to call for new legislation that puts an end to 'exploitative economic models' on the island. This includes putting a halt to 'destructive' projects such as high-profile hotels, and freezing new tourist developments.
Protestors also want a green energy transition, and an eco-tax for tourists. The latter has already been mulled over in hotspots such as Tenerife's Teide National Park - which is slated to implement an entrance fee in 2026.
READ MORE: Brits 'caught off guard' in major EU holiday hotspot as little-known rule exposed
Other demands include 'cultural and social heritage protection', clamping down on marine pollution, and rejecting macro-infrastructure projects. "If they don't listen in the streets, they'll hear us in everyday life," one protest organiser told local news.
According to Canarian Weekly, protests will take place in 15 areas across the Canary Islands, and demonstrators have vowed they 'won't stop' until they'veachieved the change of model the Canary Islands urgently need'. If you're heading over to the hotspot this week, you may want to avoid the following areas.
Canary Island's anti-tourist protests - where to avoid
Tenerife – Plaza Weyler, Santa Cruz, 11:00am
Gran Canaria – Auditorio Alfredo Kraus, Las Palmas, 11:00 am
Lanzarote – Quiosco de la Música, Arrecife, 11:00am
Fuerteventura – Plaza de la Iglesia, Puerto del Rosario, 11:00am
El Hierro – Consejería de Turismo, Valverde, 11:00am
La Palma – Plaza de La Alameda, Santa Cruz de La Palma, 11:00am
La Gomera – Plaza de Las Américas, San Sebastián, 11:00am
The upcoming protests are hardly a surprise, as anti-tourist sentiment has been escalating across Spain for some time - and has even taken a violent turn. Back in March, a shocking sign threatening to 'Kill A Tourist' was spotted in Tenerife, while reports also emerged that anonymous activists had torched rental cars on the island to send a clear message to holidaymakers.
Last month, Spain passed a law in a desperate attempt to appease frustrated residents. Following an update to the Horizontal Property Act, those wanting to cash in on the influx of Brits by renting out their house to holidaymakers will now need to gain a 60 per cent majority vote from neighbouring property owners.
The brutal new rule means homeowners putting their apartments on sites like Airbnb or Booking.com without the 'necessary support' will be asked to cease operations. They may be threatened with legal action if they ignore the warning.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
The UK's most underrated seaside town revealed - and it has a funicular lift with incredible views
Looking for an under-the-radar staycation destination? Some of the UK's most underappreciated Northern towns have been put in the spotlight in a new survey to encourage Brits to travel off-the-beaten-track this summer. According to the research, carried out by Airbnb, Saltburn-by-the-Sea is the country's most underrated seaside town. Located in North Yorkshire, the seaside town offers the 'perfect blend of serenity and intrigue', says Airbnb. It's known for its pretty Victorian architecture including Saltburn Pier (1869) and the Saltburn Cliff Lift (1884). The funicular lift is still open today and offers incredible views of Saltburn's breathtaking coastline. Whitley Bay in Tyne & Wear also makes the Airbnb hotlist of underrated seaside towns. Visitors can admire St Mary's Lighthouse which was built in 1898 or enjoy the beach at Whitley Bay Links. The third and last seaside town to feature on the list is Whitehaven in Cumbria. A port town on the northwest coast, it's under five miles from the Lake District. Although it's a small town now, Whitehaven was once the UK's third-largest port. Tourists can discover its history at The Beacon Museum. If a UK beach break isn't your cup of tea, Airbnb has also selected four top picks for food tourism. Horbury in West Yorkshire takes the top spot and has been described as 'this summer's must visit destination'. Airbnb says: 'The town is quickly becoming a hotspot for its vibrant pub scene and small-scale breweries, including the Luddite Brewing Co. at the Calder Vale Hotel, Boons and The Bingley - a collaboration between two local breweries, Ossett Brewery & SALT.' The North's other foodie hotspots are Clitheroe in Lancashire, Penistone in South Yorkshire and Ramsbottom in Greater Manchester. And when it comes to culture, there are three more Northern towns that earn a recommendation from Airbnb. Saltaire in Bradford tops the list while Haworth in Bradford and Halifax in West Yorkshire round out the podium. Airbnb says: 'Saltaire is the ultimate destination for 2025. Home to the iconic Salts Mill, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is also a cultural haven that plays home to a collection of David Hockney's works and inspiring performances at the Victoria Hall.' Luke Impett, head of partnerships at Airbnb, says: 'Our research clearly shows a growing appetite among Brits to break away from the "Instagrammable" travel loop and discover unique, quieter and more meaningful travel experiences. 'By highlighting these 10 Northern towns and offering guests the opportunity to experience a weekend break themselves, we hope to encourage travellers to explore beyond their algorithm and uncover the rich tapestry of culture, history and natural beauty that areas like West Yorkshire offer. 'The UK is one of the best places to holiday in the world and we want to work together with destinations to encourage guests to explore lesser visited areas and spread the benefits of tourism.'
The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
Spain's economy minister says 'overtourism' challenges need to be addressed
Spain could receive as many as 100 million tourists this year, according to some projections, which the country's economy minister said poses challenges for the country's residents that the government can no longer afford to ignore. Last year, Spain received a record 94 million international visitors, making it one of the most visited countries in the world. 'It's important to understand that these record numbers in terms of tourism also pose challenges,' Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo said in an interview Tuesday with The Associated Press. 'And we need to deal with those challenges also for our own population.' Tourism is a key sector for the Southern European nation's economy, which grew faster than any major advanced economy last year at 3.2%, and is projected to grow at 2.4% this year, according to the Bank of Spain, well ahead of the expected eurozone average of 0.9%. But a stubborn housing crisis in which home and rental costs have skyrocketed in cities such as Madrid, Barcelona and elsewhere has led to growing frustration about one aspect tied to tourism in particular: the proliferation of short-term rental apartments in city centers. The country has seen several large protests that have drawn tens of thousands of people to demand more government action on housing. Signs at demonstrations with slogans such as 'Get Airbnb out of our neighborhoods' point to the growing anger. In response, the government recently announced it was cracking down on Airbnb listings that it said were operating in the country illegally, a decision that the company is appealing. 'We are a 49 million-inhabitants country," Cuerpo said. The record numbers of tourists illustrate the 'attractiveness of our country, but also of the challenge that we have in terms of dealing and providing for a good experience for tourists, but at the same time avoiding overcharging (for) our own services and our own housing,' he said. The Bank of Spain recently said the country has a deficit of 450,000 homes. Building more public housing is critical to solve the problem, Cuerpo said. Spain has a lower stock of public housing than many other major European Union countries. 'This is the key challenge for this term,' the minister said of the country's housing woes. On the possibility of more U.S. tariffs on EU goods, the top economic policymaker for the eurozone's fourth-largest economy said he believed the EU still wanted to reinforce economic ties with the U.S. 'From the EU side, we are constructive but we are not naive," Cuerpo said, adding that the bloc would pursue 'other routes protecting our firms and industries' if no agreement with the Trump administration can be reached. A 90-day pause on tariffs announced by the EU and the U.S. is slated to end on July 14. About halfway through that grace period, U.S. President Donald Trump announced 50% tariffs on steel imports. The U.S. has also enacted a 25% tariff on vehicles and 10% so-called reciprocal tariffs on most other goods. On how Spain's current housing woes got here, the minister said a steep drop in construction in Spain following the 2008 financial crisis played a role. So did population growth due to immigration, Cuerpo said, and pressures from an increase in the number of tourists. While building more housing is key, the minister advocated for an all-of-the-above approach, including regulating Spain's housing market and short-term rental platforms. 'For us, there's no silver bullet,' he said.
The Sun
3 hours ago
- The Sun
Magaluf looks empty as Brits ‘shun hols hotspot because they are tired of being demonised' while resort cleans up image
MAGALUF is looking unusually bare as Brits shunned the popular holiday spot after feeling "tired of being demonised". Dozens of beach sunbeds lay empty as the usual UK party-animals were nowhere to be seen - opting to spend their time in Benidorm instead. 9 9 9 Figures published last week showed Benidorm's leading visitors were Brits and its average hotel occupancy rate had reached almost 85 per cent in May. Meanwhile, pictures of the Spanish resort showed deserted beaches and empty restaurants - a steep contrast to what was once described as a "lawless party" hub. Deck chairs that would previously have been filled with boozing Brits sat empty, whilst Magaluf's once crowd-stricken streets appeared decidedly desolate. The barren resort is a positive change for many locals, who despaired at the "touristification" of their town. They're welcoming instead a new wave of tourists hailing from different European countries, which they hope will clean up the resort's image. Nightclub boss, Migue Perez-Masra, told local press that Playa de Palma, near the Majorcan capital, has seen a sharp increase in German tourists. 9 9 9 He claimed young Brits are turning their backs on Magaluf after feeling 'demonized" by locals. The area is now seeing more and more French and Italian visitors too. Attempts to clean up the resort's image come as Magaluf was branded a lawless party resort after a shocking sex video emerged in June 2014 showing a British tourist performing sex acts on 24 men in a bar. The 18-year-old at the centre of the viral footage was reportedly duped into performing the sex acts for what she thought was a free break that turned out to be a cocktail named 'Holiday'. At the time, Spanish politician Jose Ramon Bauza, branded Punta Ballena - Magaluf's strip - as '500 metres of shame'. Anti-tourist mob attacks holidaymakers with water guns as they vow Spain faces 'long hot summer' of protest carnage The bar was ordered to close for a year whilst authorities cracked the whip on unruly behaviour. Fines of up to £50,000 were introduced for holidaymakers caught leaping off their hotel balconies, whilst limits were set on the amount of alcohol served at all-inclusive hotels. Further restrictions in Spanish party resorts were introduced last year. In parts of Majorca and Ibiza, tourists can be fined up to £1,300 for drinking on the streets and shops are now only allowed to sell alcohol at certain times. Britain's then-Ambassador to Spain Hugh Elliott urged holidaymakers in the Majorcan party resort to 'show responsibility' and remember they were "guests" in Spain. This Sunday anti-tourism protestors will stage another demonstration in the Majorcan capital Palma. The demo has been organised by activist organisation Menys Turisme, Mes Vida, with 60 groups already pledging to take part. Protestors from other cities including Barcelona and San Sebastian will also take to a streets as part of co-ordinated events. A Menys Turisme, Mes Vida spokesman said last week: 'We will demonstrate for the right to a decent life and to demand the brakes are put on the touristification of this island.' Anti-tourist sentiment is on the rise across the world - not just in Europe. In Indonesia, Bali has announced a raft of rules including a swearing ban - enforced by a police force dedicated to cracking down on troublemakers. The new guidelines advise that foreign tourists 'should observe and honour Balinese customs, traditions, and cultural practices, especially during ceremonies.' They note tourists should also 'dress appropriately when visiting temples, tourist attractions, or public spaces.' Bali has further imposed a tourist tax of 150,000 IDR (under £8). Thailand is similarly introducing a 300-baht (under £7) tourism tax, which will come into force as of May 1. In Ecuador's Galapagos Islands, tourists are restricted to marked trails and must visit protected areas with a certified guide to help preserve this natural treasure. Since August 2024, tourists at the Galapagos must pay an increased entry tax of $200 (£155). 9 9 9
