Tourists 'cowering in rooms' after thousands join anti-tourism protests in Spain

Edinburgh Live

19-05-2025

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Tourists are reportedly too frightened to venture out of their rooms as thousands have taken to the streets in a series of intense anti-tourism demonstrations across the Canary Islands.
As the peak holiday season approaches, disgruntled residents have made their displeasure known, with an estimated 7,000 individuals marching through Santa Cruz, Tenerife's capital.
The large-scale protests have been replicated across all seven islands, including Lanzarote, Gran Canaria, and Fuerteventura, with organisers stating that the sun-drenched Spanish islands, which are particularly favoured by Brits, "have a limit".
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The protest group, named "The Canary Islands have a limit", has yet to announce the total number of participants but has described the turnout as "very high".
Most of the demonstrations kicked off yesterday at 11am, witnessing vast numbers of people flooding promenades and beaches, while holidaymakers watched on. The campaigners are taking a stand against the mass tourism model that underpins the islands' economy.
During the protests, participants were seen blowing into conch-like horns to make a racket, drumming, and voicing chants that criticised the local tourism sector, reports the Mirror.
Holidaymakers on the Canary Islands were left shaken as angry demonstrators demanding action against the impact of mass tourism on the region poured onto the streets. One of the rallying cries of the protests was "El dinero del turismo, donde está?" or "The money from tourism, where is it?".
As irate locals made their voices heard, Irish tourist Alberto Babo opted to stay indoors, telling the Daily Mail: "I didn't go out today due to the protests, I'm stuck in my Airbnb to avoid the crowds. I hope they are not violent or anything but just to be safe I'm here. All I can hear is the noise."
Despite the intensity of the protests, crowds remained peaceful, adopting slogans such as "The Canary Islands are not for sale, they are loved and defended" in Gran Canaria. Protest banners also proclaimed "The Canary Islands have a limit and so does our patience" and "Enough is enough!".
The demonstrations have spread beyond the islands, with anti-tourism protests reported in other Spanish cities and European capitals like Berlin. Campaigners are calling for a moratorium on tourism, an eco tax, and stricter regulations on holiday rentals, particularly on platforms such as Airbnb, amid growing unrest over the social, environmental, and housing crises caused by tourist saturation.