Popular vacation destination on brink of huge tourism change as new laws considered
Major changes could be
in store for the Canary Islands
as the local government kicks off a public consultation on its tourism rules.
The widespread consultation, announced this Monday, aims to update laws from 1995 and 2013 in response to
growing anger among locals
in tourist hotspots like Tenerife, Lanzarote, and Gran Canaria over overtourism,
with Mallorca even considering a ban.
Local media outlets report that the objective is to tailor the laws to the current challenges and realities facing the Canary Islands. This initiative comes ahead of anti-mass tourism protests planned across the islands on May 18, reports
Dublin Live
. The collective Canarias Tiene Un Limite (The Canaries Have a Limit), made up of various organizations, is organizing the protests and has voiced frustration at governments and institutions ignoring residents' calls to control visitor numbers.
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According to the Canarian Weekly, one of the main goals of the new legislation is to address the housing shortage in popular tourist areas, with a focus on protecting locals' access to long-term accommodation.
Spain is a hugely popular tourism destination for Irish people
(Image: ITV)
Activists have underscored the housing situation and rental prices as primary concerns.
The Canarian Weekly also notes that the legislation will, among other things, define the status of areas particularly popular with tourists to inform infrastructure and public service decisions.
Canary Islands Tourism and Employment Minister Jessica de Leon emphasized the region's commitment to change, saying: "This process is about reconnecting regulation with the people and professionals of the islands - making tourism more equitable, sustainable, and resilient."
In 2024, a colossal almost 18 million holidaymakers flocked to the Canary Islands, with a sizeable 6.3 million from Britain alone.
Known for its eternal sun, mesmerising beaches, and adventure on the sea, the archipelago boasting treasures like Tenerife, Lanzarote, and Gran Canaria continues to charm globetrotters.
With public unrest simmering last year over mass tourism's toll on Europe, The Canaries Have a Limit group intends to take their discontents public next month, stating: "The Canary Islands can no longer be a postcard backdrop for the enjoyment of a privileged few.
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"We are the voice of those who reject false progress at the cost of widespread precarity."
Moreover, they declared: "We are the Canarian people - a people who will not give up until we achieve the change we deserve.
"On May 18th, the fight continues in the streets. What comes next will be impossible to ignore."
Earlier this month, the buzz was that Canary Islands leaders were scheming to seek EU support to limit both non-resident and foreign investment in island property affairs.
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