British tourists in Spain warned 'stay in your hotels' as families issued alert
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info
Holidaymakers huddle in their hotels as anti-tourism protests erupt across the Canary Islands. Throngs of demonstrators, pushing for a cap on tourism, caused mayhem on the usually tranquil islands on Sunday May 18, decrying the inundation of tourists flocking to popular Spanish retreats.
In an appalling turn, activists reportedly took vile actions involving sewage. Major disruptions flared across Spain starting at 11am, impacting key destinations such as Tenerife, Fuerteventura, El Hierro, La Palma, La Gomera, and Lanzarote.
32 year old Alberto Babo revealed to MailOnline, "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."
A demonstrator underscored the tension, asserting: "Spain has become the after party for Europe, and Tenerife has more tourists per year than Brazil, we don't have room".
The protester further voiced, "We are not against individual tourists, just those who don't respect the rules, who throw trash and pollute and commit crimes. We have toilets that are closed on our beaches because they are contaminated by sewage," reports Birmingham Live.
They highlighted deepening frustration: "Since our historic protest last year the government has done nothing, they have actually increased the number of tourists coming and we don't have enough room. The traffic is so bad when they are here; a 15-minute journey takes one hour."
The attendant griped about the pressure on local housing, lamenting, "The number of Airbnbs is too high and there is nowhere to rent, it is catastrophic for the island."
Tenerife saw a mass convening of protestors waving flags and banging drums.
Campaigners are demanding a limit on the number of holidaymakers to avoid overcrowding and resource depletion. They're also calling for a halt on the construction of any new hotels or tourism apartment complexes.
Among the rallying cries heard was: 'El dinero del turismo, donde está?' which translates as 'The money from tourism, where is it?'
Tenerife's Tourism Minister, Lope Alfonso, stated that the government has been striving towards a model to 'achieve a balance between the interests of residents and tourists. '.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
5 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Jet2's new flights to connect the UK to two Spanish beach cities
Plus, the other winter sun destination where it's 24C in December. WINTER SUN Jet2's new flights to connect the UK to two Spanish beach cities JET2 will launch exclusive new flights from the UK to two affordable Spanish cities. Leaving from regional airports, Brits can head over to Malaga and Majorca with the airline from next summer, and they'll continue through the winter months. 4 Jet2 has revealed flights for next winter Credit: Alamy 4 One route is from Bournemouth to Malaga Credit: Getty Jet2 has revealed new winter routes for 2026 - with tickets already on sale. One of the exclusive routes goes from Bournemouth to Malaga. This route will begin in July 2026 and continue until November of that year. The Spanish city is a great place for winter sun as it has highs of 24C in October, and it's only two hours away from the UK. Malaga has more than 105 miles of sandy beaches making it the perfect spot for sunbathing. The beaches are usually bordered by palm trees and adorned with colourful parasols. It's also popular for watersports enthusiasts, and there's hundreds of restaurants too. The other exclusive route from Jet2 is from London Luton to Palma Majorca. The route is already in action for summer 2025, and will continue until November. It will then pause before beginning again in March 2026 and continuing through to November. The Sun explores Majorca 4 Majorca is a popular winter sun destination Credit: Getty Flights will begin again in February and March 2027. The capital of Majorca, Palma, is a popular winter holiday destination because daytime averages in winter are usually around 17C. Although temperatures during December have highs of 26C in recent years. Playa de Palma and Cala Major are two of Palma's best beaches, with golden sands and crystal-clear seas. There's the option to sunbathe, but the city centre has lots of culture to see and explore. The winter time will inevitably offer a more relaxed time away as it's out of peak season. Jet2 has converted a number of summer seasonal routes into year-round flights too. The extended routes are from Bristol to Athens in Greece and Almeria, Bilbao and Murcia in Spain. Also continuing through winter will be flights from Edinburgh to Athens, and from London Luton to Bordeaux in France and Murcia. The flights are already on sale. Jet2 launched new flights from UK airport for first time ever earlier this year. The airline also revealed plans for a new winter sun destination where it's 24C in December.
Daily Mirror
6 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Grim issue with 'terrible' smell could jeopardise holidays at top destinations
A grim problem with a "terrible" smell has arisen on a vast swathe of coastline in the Americas, from Puerto Rico to Guyana, affecting hotel bookings and even shutting schools A grim issue with a "terrible" smell could be jeopardising travel plans for tourists visiting the sun-kissed beaches of the Caribbean. Masses of a type of seaweed named sargassum have swamped a broad stretch of coast from Puerto Rico to Guyana, affecting locations across the West Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico. La Vanguardia, a Spanish newspaper, reported that scientists observed a record amount of the troublesome macroalgae in May, but the situation could deteriorate even further this month. The seaweed invasion is reportedly hampering tourism industries in Mexico and Colombia. Meanwhile, anti-seaweed defences have been activated in the Dominican Republic, whilst the popular holiday destination of Barbados faces dips in hotel reservations. Argentina's Infobae has highlighted that this expansive belt of sargassum may extend for hundreds or even thousands of miles. Satellite imagery suggests it's drifting through the Caribbean and potentially heading for the US' southern coastline. Researchers at the University of South Florida's Optical Oceanography Laboratory warned of a whopping 150% increase in Caribbean levels, uncovering a shocking 40 million metric tonnes in the Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico. It also emits an unpleasant smell (likened to rotten eggs) when it rots, which is reportedly such an issue that it's led to school closures in Martinique. Yet, scientists don't know why the sargassum levels have doubled to these record-breaking levels. However, experts have suggested that changes in rainfall, wind, currents, and warming waters may impact its proliferation. Brian Barnes, an assistant research professor at the University of South Florida, remarked: "The peaks seem to be getting bigger year after year." Yet, the reasons behind this dramatic increase remain a puzzle. He confessed: "It's the million-dollar question. I don't have a satisfactory answer." The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) describes sargassum as a type of large brown seaweed that floats in "island-like" masses. It also has structures known as pneumatocysts. Pneumatocysts, which provide buoyancy and allow the seaweed to float on the sea, look similar to berries and contain gas, primarily oxygen. Sometimes spanning miles, sargassum provides sustenance and breeding grounds for various marine life, including birds, sea turtles, fish, shrimp, and crabs. Some creatures, like the sargassum fish, even spend their entire existence within this floating habitat. Moreover, the NOAA notes that sargassum serves as a nursery for several commercially significant fish species such as amberjacks, mahi mahi, and jacks. Brian conceded that large amounts of seaweed on the open water is conducive with a "healthy and happy ecosystem", but it can also prove to be an issue for ecosystems when it gathers on the shore. He further explained that it can pose a problem for coral reefs, as it obstructs the sunlight they need to survive. Additionally, when it washes up on shore, the creatures living in it either perish or become easy prey for birds.
Glasgow Times
6 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Talking points as England continue World Cup qualifying campaign against Andorra
Here, the PA news agency takes a look at the talking points ahead of the game. Destination USA Thomas Tuchel visited the Spanish Grand Prix at the weekend but is taking this match seriously (Bradley Collyer/PA) Victories over Albania and Latvia in Thomas Tuchel's first two games in charge in March set England on the right path to North America next summer and they currently top Group K after two games, though their biggest rivals Serbia are yet to kick-off their campaign. However, a victory over the minnows in Barcelona will put Tuchel's men one step closer to the World Cup ahead of September's toughest game of the group in Serbia. The German is not taking the game lightly, naming his strongest possible squad, including players who are going to the Club World Cup later this month. Brothers in arms Trevoh Chalobah earned his maiden call-up to the senior squad after an impressive season for Chelsea and he has his sights on history. If he is able to get on the pitch against Andorra – or Senegal in next Tuesday's friendly – he will follow in his brother Nathaniel's shoes by representing England, making the Chalobahs the 21st set of brothers to play for England. Only two of them have been post-war, Bobby and Jack Charlton and Phil and Gary Neville, while Trevoh will be hoping his international career lasts longer than the six minutes 54 seconds Nathaniel managed in his one and only appearance in 2018. The heat is on England are already preparing for the extreme temperatures they are expected to face in next summer's World Cup and they have spent the week training in the 27-degree heat of Spain rather than at St George's Park. The players have been doing acclimitisation testing this week, consisting of cycling in sauna-like temperatures, and taking scientific tests on their core body temperature and reaction to heat. They will get some in-game experience of it against Andorra as well, with temperatures expected to be in the mid-20s when the match kicks off on Saturday tea-time. Ivan the great Most people thought Ivan Toney had sacrificed his England career when he made a money-spinning move to Saudia Arabia last summer, but Thomas Tuchel has brought him back into the squad. The striker scored 23 goals in 30 Saudi Pro League appearances for Al-Ahli, helping the side to win the AFC Champions League Elite competition. With Ollie Watkins also back in the squad after injury, captain Harry Kane has some competition in attack. Down Andorra out? England won 5-0 against Andorra last time they met (Nick Potts/PA) This match is not a question of whether England will win, but how many goals will they score. Andorra are well down the FIFA rankings, in 173rd and below Papa New Guinea and St Vincent and the Grenadines, and have only ever won four World Cup qualifiers – two of them against San Marino. England have a healthy record against them, winning all of their six previous meetings to an aggregate of 25-0 and should strengthen that.
