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The Irish Sun
07-05-2025
- The Irish Sun
Irish warned ‘stay clear' of protests & ‘always have ID' with €3k booze fine alert in 5 Spain rules for hotspots chaos
IRISH people in Spain have been warned not to drink on the streets or smoke in the wrong places as they jet off to the popular sunspot this summer. And officials have in particular warned holidaymakers in Spain to "stay clear" from protests that spring up "with little or no warning" throughout the region. 4 The advice for Irish people caught up in protests is clear Credit: EPA/Alberto Valdes 4 Disruption is expected from protest groups throughout the busy season Credit: Albert Llop/NurPhoto/REX/Shutterstock Spain has seen heightened demonstrations over the past year due to an anti-tourism movement as well as disputes over pay for hospitality staff. Protests over the past year have already seen thousands of Spaniards take to the streets to march, block visitors from popular beaches or attraction and even spray tourists with water guns. And Irish people heading to the sunspot this year have been warned that several disruptions are planned to take place on June 15. The demonstrations are planned for Lanzarote, Tenerife, Barcelona and Majorca - but other popular resorts and cities could host large crowds of protestors too. READ MORE IN TRAVEL These rallies will cause disruption at popular tourist attractions and airports, but the Department of Foreign Affairs is warning Irish in Spain to stay away from any protests. It said: "Public gatherings and demonstrations can at times take place with little or no warning. 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." MOST READ ON THE IRISH SUN The warning comes just ahead of peak Panic-buying hits Spain & Portugal leaving shelves bare after massive power cut The Department of Foreign Affairs has issued some detailed advice for travellers to avoid any trouble while trying to enjoy their beak. ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION Safety and awareness around Drinking on the streets in Spain outside designated areas such as outdoor terraces in cafes or bars is strictly forbidden. Breaking this rule could result in a fine of up to €3,000. However, there are some exceptions to this rule such as during outdoor festivals on the streets of But tourists should make sure to double check the local rules before engaging in any drinking in public areas. And the Department of Foreign affairs warn holidaymakers that drinks in the sunshine spot are sold in "significantly larger measures". This means you may need to drink a lesser number of drinks than usual due to the higher alcohol volume. SMOKING IN PUBLIC AREAS In Spain you are not permitted to smoke in collective areas or public indoor spaces. These include bars, health centres, schools, companies, government buildings and at outdoor areas such as children's playgrounds and education centres. Bars and restaurants reserve the right to decide whether to permit smoking in their outdoor terraces. If you are caught CARRYING ID It is a requirement in Spain to carry a must carry a state-issued photo ID on your person "at all times". This applies to holidaymakers as well as locals. Failure to produce an ID on the spot when asked by the Civil Guard, National, Regional or For Irish people having their passport or passport card on them at all times will qualify. SPANISH EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBERS These are some handy contact details to have to hand if you find yourself in trouble while holidaying in Spain. Embassy of Ireland in Spain: +34 91 4364093 General Emergency: 112 Department of Foreign Affairs: 00353 1 4082000 Civil Guard: 062 National Police: 091 However, the Department of Foreign Affairs has issued some advice for those nervous about losing their passport book. It said: "To avoid the inconvenience, and risk of loss/robbery associated with carrying your Irish passport book, we advise our citizens to obtain a Passport Card, which can be easily carried in your wallet or purse." SWIMWEAR RULES In specific areas of Spain tourists may face a fine for wearing swimwear outside of pool or This means you will need to bring something to cover up if you plan to walk to the beach or nip to the store during your sunbathing session. These fines could reach €300 so tourists are advised to check if their holiday location has such rules in place. 4 There are some easy rules to follow that will save holiday makers a lot of hassle Credit: Getty Images 4 The alcohol rules could leave out thousands out of pocket if broken Credit: Getty Images
The Irish Sun
24-04-2025
- The Irish Sun
Irish warned ‘prepare to adjust Spain holiday plans' as exact date tourist protestors ‘take fight to streets' revealed
ANTI-tourist protests are continuing to escalate across Spain, with Irish holidayers told to "stay home" as the summer fast approaches. Irish tourists heading to Spain have been warned to "be prepared to adjust your travel plans at short notice" as activists 4 Hotel and hospitality workers protested in Tenerife over the weekend Credit: EPA/Alberto Valdes 4 Locals in Gran Canaria protested against rising rental prices, evictions and the touristification of one of the oldest neighbourhoods on the island earlier this month Credit: lamy Live News Demonstrators have claimed that "what comes next will be impossible to ignore" as we approach peak tourist season. Renowned group 'Canarias tiene un limite' - meaning 'Canaries has a limit' - told how it is "tired of being ignored and mistreated" and said that A statement issued by the group declared that activists are The statement read: "We are the Canarian people - a people who will not give up until we achieve the change we deserve. READ MORE IN TRAVEL "On May 18, the fight continues in the streets. What comes next will be impossible to ignore." Demonstrations And although there are only protest plans in place for one of the Canary Islands, which include several destinations popular with Irish tourists such as , , and , it is likely that more demonstrations will be held in other areas. The Canarias tiene un limite revealed: "Several islands and the Canarian population are called to unite again to reject an economic model that is taking the Canary Islands to the limit. MOST READ ON THE IRISH SUN "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." Top Tenerife anti-tourist crusader is revealed as a BRIT who admits he's constantly branded a 'hypocrite' Those partaking in the protests claim that holidaymakers have impacted housing, pricing, the environment and roads for locals - as well as peace and quiet in towns. They also fume that despite past protests, the Canary government still haven't made changes. Protesters across Spain on April 5 were urged by anti-tourism activists to to render them unusable. PROTEST LOCATIONS This year, Government authorities said 15,000 marched in Madrid on 5 April, while organisers said 10 times that many took to the streets of the capital. Marchers in the capital chanted "get Airbnb out of our neighbourhoods" and held up signs against short-term rentals. And, after protesters descended onto the streets in Malaga earlier this year, the city authorities cancelled plans to build 1,300 tourist homes in the area. Hotel workers in the The involved approximately ANTI-TOURIST MEASURES A WAVE of anti-tourist measures are being implemented across Europe to curb mass tourism in popular holiday hotspots. Overcrowding has become the main problem in many sunny destinations, with authorities trying to find a solution to keep tourists and locals happy. Officials have attempted to reduce the impact of holidaymakers by implementing additional taxes on tourists, or Earlier this year Venice became the first city in the world to It was followed by an area in Meanwhile, The city has already The Spanish government has allowed Benidorm has introduced time restrictions, as swimming in the sea between midnight and 7am, including a fine. The Canary Islands are also considering adopting measures to regulate the number of visitors - and charge tourists a daily tax. Greece has already enforced a tourist tax during the high season (from March to October) with visitors expected to pay from €1 to €4 per night, depending on the booked accommodation. Officials in Santiago de Compostela in Galicia want to Protests last year saw capital Santa Cruz as the main focus. And while plans for demonstrations in mainland Spain this year are still unconfirmed, mounted across 40 major cities, including Malaga on the Costa del Sol and Alicante earlier this month. Last year, a huge protest in Palma on July 21 passed off peacefully, although some demonstrators used Spain's Euros final win to poke fun at English tourists. Last October, demonstrators The surreal scenes occurred after hundreds of protesters diverted from their planned seafront route in Playa de las Americas in the south of the island and ended up taking over Troya Beach. Organisers said 80,000 people had joined in Tenerife protests alone on April 20 last year. WARNING FOR IRISH TOURISTS Irish tourists have been warned to stay up to date with details of the location they're flying to, local developments and their hotels. The Department of Foreign Affairs has previously warned holidayers to "stay clear" of protests and prepare to "adjust your travel plans", adding that demonstrations can sometimes spring up with "no warning". It said: "Public gatherings and demonstrations can at times take place with little or no warning. "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." 4 Thousands demonstrated in Madrid to demand policies to intervene in the housing market, combat rent-seeking, and tourist occupation of housing earlier this month Credit: Ignacio Lopez Isasmendi/ZUMA Press Wire 4 People hold placards reading 'Stop Evictions' as they take part in a protest to demand lower housing rental prices and better living conditions in Barcelona Credit: REUTERS/Nacho Doce
The Irish Sun
23-04-2025
- The Irish Sun
Spain ‘don't come' warning for Irish tourists as locals vow to ramp up summer protests in ‘too many people' cry
IRISH tourists have been told not to holiday in the Canary Islands, with "tired and angry" locals claiming the sun spots are too overcrowded. Anti-tourism protesters in Tenerife vowed to 3 Hotel and hospitality workers held a strike in Tenerife last week Credit: EPA/Alberto Valdes 3 Some 80,000 people joined Tenerife protests on April 20 last year Credit: Andres Gutierrez/Anadolu via Getty Images The Canary Islands include several destinations popular with Irish tourists, from And although last year's protests were timed to occur before peak tourist season - demonstrators have Organisers said 80,000 people had joined in Tenerife protests alone on April 20 last year. In October, protestors in Tenerife READ MORE IN TRAVEL Locals hit out at the government for their "lack of action" following the demonstrations, which Demonstrators once again Thousands of people Activists also bragged they were Most read in News Travel Those partaking in the protests claim that holidaymakers have impacted housing, the environment and roads for locals - as well as peace and quiet in towns. Thousands of anti-tourist protesters flood Spanish hols hotspots & call on mob to super glue holiday rental locks Ivan Cerdena Molina, an activist within the protest movement and a member of local environmental group ATAN, voiced his frustration that despite the protests, the tourist number is increasing each year. He said: "We had 16 million tourists [in the Canaries] in 2023 and 18 million in 2024. In 2025, the number is increasing again. "The government didn't do anything; it just spoke nice words with no real action. 'WE CANNOT TAKE IT ANYMORE' "The situation is really critical, no one who wants to enjoy holidays with peace would come to a collapsed and congested island, it's simple there are too many people everywhere. "Local people are really tired and angry, they are showing it. "If we can ask something, it would be, please don't come, we cannot take it anymore." Molina, along with other campaigners, has confirmed that more protests will kick off as we move into the summer months. A statement issued on May 18 under the banner "the Canaries have a limit" declared that activists are escalating their tactics. FIRST PROTESTS SPAIN'S first anti-tourism protests of the year kicked off with vigour on April 5, after thousands of anti-tourism protesters flooded the streets of over 40 cities in Spain. Protests followed on from a series of Canary island beach workers also Unions said they wanted to alert holidaymakers to the possible effects of the strike but asked them not to cancel their plans. They also said they didn't want tourists to change their image of the Canaries as a good holiday destination. Protesters across Spain on April 5 were urged by anti-tourism activists to The main issue addressed at the protest was the lack of affordable homes, which locals say has been caused by the rise in Airbnb rentals and apartments. An The letter read: "ENOUGH! STAY HOME! We do not need more tourists; in fact, you are the source of our problem. DO NOT COME." The group vowed to "take our fight to the very spaces where their predatory model is perpetuated" by sabotaging public events, facing-off with political figures, and taking over symbolic tourist attractions. The statement read: "We are the Canarian people - a people who will not give up until we achieve the change we deserve. "On May 18, the fight continues in the streets. What comes next will be impossible to ignore." The group said demonstrations are to start in Tenerife on May 18 at 11am from the Plaza Weyler in the capital tourist hotspot of Santa Cruz. 3 Protesters marched on Las Americas beach during a demonstration in Tenerife last year Credit: Getty Images
