Latest news with #BrianHarrison
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Britons don't want to come to Tenerife anymore – they don't feel wanted'
British holidaymakers and the Canary Islands have been in love with one another since the 1960s when the first package deals attracted sun-starved northern Europeans at affordable prices. However, recent headlines suggest the romance is waning, with an acrimonious split said to be on the cards. Sensational stories of hotel guests hiding in their rooms from riotous anti-tourist demonstrations, British restaurant patrons being spat at by furious locals, and plane loads of UK arrivals suffocating in inhumane conditions in two-hour queues at Tenerife South's arrivals hall have left many questioning whether their loyalty – and their holiday euros – would be more appreciated elsewhere. A proposed tourist tax could make things even more expensive in the near future, too. But does this narrative hold up, or is it just a case of holiday hysteria whipped up by clickbait headlines? It's hard to ignore the protests that have been going on in the Canary Islands since April 2024, when tens of thousands peacefully demonstrated under the banner of 'Canarias tiene un limite' ('the Canaries have a limit'). But despite what some of the headlines seek to portray, protesters insist their gripe isn't against sun-seeking Britons, but principally about what they see as an unchecked tourism model that is progressively pricing locals out of their own communities, overwhelming the islands' infrastructure, and destroying ecosystems and environments both on land and in the ocean. As Brian Harrison, from the Salvar la Tejita protest group, says: 'At no point was the protest aimed at tourists or tourism. Every one of the [17] organisations that took part values sustainable tourism as positive for the economy. The protest was clearly aimed at the unsustainable mass-tourism crisis which the Canarian government, island council and certain town halls are responsible for.' Over 104,000 homes in the Canaries are owned by companies and large-scale property speculators. Meanwhile, during the past five years wages have dropped by nearly 7 per cent and rents have increased by 40 per cent, an unsustainable position for local workers, and the reason why hospitality workers are threatening further strike action this summer. Nevertheless, it's clear that some British holidaymakers are taking the ongoing grievances personally. One local, employed by says she's aware of a definite shift in mood: 'My family back in the UK are saying a lot of people they know don't want to come to Tenerife anymore because of the protests. They say they don't feel wanted.' And she's not alone. Tenerife estate agent Martin Astley says: 'We do get people contacting us asking if it's safe to come to Tenerife now because of what they're seen in the news. We always explain that the media are blowing things out of proportion, using dramatic, false headlines when the reality is nothing like what they're trying to portray.' Major UK travel providers aren't panicking; far from it. Tui has actually increased its Canary Islands capacity this summer, adding 40,000 extra seats from UK airports, while easyJet has launched new routes to Tenerife from London Southend. In other words, despite the headlines, tour operators clearly still have faith in the destination. The next big round of protests is taking place on June 15, but these marches are planned for mainland Spain and the Balearics, not currently the Canary Islands. Néstor Marrero, secretary of Tenerife's Friends of Nature Association, says that for now, the archipelago's protest groups have decided to change tack. Instead, they're focusing on occupying local landmarks, starting with Teide National Park on June 7. So, while Barcelona and Mallorca may see crowds chanting for change, Tenerife and the other seven islands should remain peaceful on June 15. Having said that, if media headlines fail to make this distinction, there's bound to be a few more holidaymakers who get the wrong end of the stick and look at alternative summer holiday destinations like Turkey, Tunisia and Albania. Santiago Sesé, president of Tenerife's Chamber of Commerce, recently reported an 8 per cent drop in UK summer bookings compared with last year. And Pedro Alfonso from the region's Spanish Confederation of Employers' Organisations admitted that there had been 'a notable slump' in reservations for the forthcoming season. However, other sources suggest 2025 could be a record year for tourism to the archipelago. According to Spain's National Statistics Institute, the Canary Islands welcomed over 4.36 million international visitors in the first quarter of this year – a new record, up more than 2 per cent year on year. Of those, over 40 per cent came from the UK, with Tenerife taking the lion's share. The British love affair with the Canaries may have cooled, but for now the planes are arriving full, and the hotels are still reporting high occupancy levels. Indeed, local business owners are sympathetic over the calls for change. What they're more worried about is the damage to the island's image due to misreporting. As local entrepreneur John Parkes says: 'I'm supportive of the protests. My concern is that the demonstrations are misinterpreted by the public and the media. The aims of the protests are to make the tourist model fairer for the people who live here.' The reality is that the destination is just as warm and welcoming as it's ever been, and visitors are unlikely to even notice the unrest amongst the islanders who understandably want the government to prioritise their needs over the demands of an ever-expanding tourism industry. What's happening in the Canaries isn't a British retreat, it's an island reckoning, and if it does lead to a fairer, more sustainable tourism model, that should be something worth raising a glass of sangria to. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
14 hours ago
- Telegraph
‘Britons don't want to come to Tenerife anymore – they don't feel wanted'
British holidaymakers and the Canary Islands have been in love with one another since the 1960s when the first package deals attracted sun-starved northern Europeans at affordable prices. However, recent headlines suggest the romance is waning, with an acrimonious split said to be on the cards. Sensational stories of hotel guests hiding in their rooms from riotous anti-tourist demonstrations, British restaurant patrons being spat at by furious locals, and plane loads of UK arrivals suffocating in inhumane conditions at passport control have left many questioning whether their loyalty – and their holiday euros – would be more appreciated elsewhere. But does this narrative hold up, or is it just a case of holiday hysteria whipped up by clickbait headlines? It's hard to ignore the protests that have been going on in the Canary Islands since April 2024, when tens of thousands peacefully demonstrated under the banner of ' Canarias tiene un limite' ('the Canaries have a limit'). But despite what some of the headlines seek to portray, protesters insist their gripe isn't against sun-seeking Britons, but principally about what they see as an unchecked tourism model that is progressively pricing locals out of their own communities, overwhelming the islands' infrastructure, and destroying ecosystems and environments both on land and in the ocean. As Brian Harrison, from the Salvar la Tejita protest group, says: 'At no point was the protest aimed at tourists or tourism. Every one of the [17] organisations that took part values sustainable tourism as positive for the economy. The protest was clearly aimed at the unsustainable mass-tourism crisis which the Canarian government, island council and certain town halls are responsible for.' Over 104,000 homes in the Canaries are owned by companies and large-scale property speculators. Meanwhile, during the past five years wages have dropped by nearly 7 per cent and rents have increased by 40 per cent, an unsustainable position for local workers, and the reason why hospitality workers are threatening further strike action this summer. Nevertheless, it's clear that some British holidaymakers are taking the ongoing grievances personally. One local, employed by says she's aware of a definite shift in mood: 'My family back in the UK are saying a lot of people they know don't want to come to Tenerife anymore because of the protests. They say they don't feel wanted.' And she's not alone. Tenerife estate agent Martin Astley says: 'We do get people contacting us asking if it's safe to come to Tenerife now because of what they're seen in the news. We always explain that the media are blowing things out of proportion, using dramatic, false headlines when the reality is nothing like what they're trying to portray.' Major UK travel providers aren't panicking; far from it. Tui has actually increased its Canary Islands capacity this summer, adding 40,000 extra seats from UK airports, while easyJet has launched new routes to Tenerife from London Southend. In other words, despite the headlines, tour operators clearly still have faith in the destination. The next big round of protests is taking place on June 15, but these marches are planned for mainland Spain and the Balearics, not currently the Canary Islands. Néstor Marrero, secretary of Tenerife's Friends of Nature Association, says that for now, the archipelago's protest groups have decided to change tack. Instead, they're focusing on occupying local landmarks, starting with Teide National Park on June 7. So, while Barcelona and Mallorca may see crowds chanting for change, Tenerife and the other seven islands should remain peaceful on June 15. Having said that, if media headlines fail to make this distinction, there's bound to be a few more holidaymakers who get the wrong end of the stick and look at alternative summer holiday destinations like Turkey, Tunisia and Albania. Santiago Sesé, president of Tenerife's Chamber of Commerce, recently reported an 8 per cent drop in UK summer bookings compared with last year. And Pedro Alfonso from the region's Spanish Confederation of Employers' Organisations admitted that there had been 'a notable slump' in reservations for the forthcoming season. However, other sources suggest 2025 could be a record year for tourism to the archipelago. According to Spain's National Statistics Institute, the Canary Islands welcomed over 4.36 million international visitors in the first quarter of this year – a new record, up more than 2 per cent year on year. Of those, over 40 per cent came from the UK, with Tenerife taking the lion's share. The British love affair with the Canaries may have cooled, but for now the planes are arriving full, and the hotels are still reporting high occupancy levels. Indeed, local business owners are sympathetic over the calls for change. What they're more worried about is the damage to the island's image due to misreporting. As local entrepreneur John Parkes says: 'I'm supportive of the protests. My concern is that the demonstrations are misinterpreted by the public and the media. The aims of the protests are to make the tourist model fairer for the people who live here.' The reality is that the destination is just as warm and welcoming as it's ever been, and visitors are unlikely to even notice the unrest amongst the islanders who understandably want the government to prioritise their needs over the demands of an ever-expanding tourism industry. What's happening in the Canaries isn't a British retreat, it's an island reckoning, and if it does lead to a fairer, more sustainable tourism model, that should be something worth raising a glass of sangria to.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Texas House approves $1.5 billion film tax incentive
AUSTIN (Nexstar) — On Monday, the Texas House voted 114-26 to pass Senate Bill 22, which provides tax breaks for films shot in Texas. $300 million will be allocated to the program every other year for the next ten years — a cumulative $1.5 billion investment. 'Members, this is (the) make Texas film industry great again bill,' Rep. Todd Hunter, R-Corpus Christi shouted as he started to lay out SB 22 on Sunday night. His loud remarks after the House spent nearly four hours discussion the 'Make America Healthy Again' bill were designed to grab the House's attention. 'This is one of the bills that looks like it's had more different interpretations than I can count, and so I want to be very, very to the point and tell you what this film bill does.' SB 22 has consistently drawn harsh criticism from a wing of the Republican party, highlighted by strong opposition from State Rep. Brian Harrison. From March 6 to Monday at noon, Harrison posted the word 'Hollywood' in 45 separate X posts, many of them saying 'Don't Hollywood my Texas.' 'This is another anti-taxpayer bill in the most anti-taxpayer session in Texas history,' Harrison said in a statement. 'Instead of lowering property taxes, the Texas House just voted to steal billions from hard working Texans to give to liberal Hollywood. This is crony corporatism and not the role of government.' While Harrison didn't speak about the bill in front of the full House on Sunday, State Rep. David Lowe shared his sentiment. 'This bill provides taxpayer-funded incentives to the film and entertainment industry. The same industry that once hailed Harvey Weinstein as a hero and turned a blind eye to his abuse for years,' Lowe said. 'This is also the same industry that trashed us for supporting President Trump, mocked us for standing up for the unborn, vilified us for opposing gender transitions for children and ridiculed our Christian faith at every opportunity.' However, the biggest advocates for SB 22 aren't worried about Texas turning into Hollywood. '[Lowe] mentioned Weinstein and some of the issues that industries in other states have had and the darker direction they've gone,' Chase Musslewhite with Media for Texas, said. 'That's the full reason we're doing this, so we're kind of on the same page here. We really have amazing hopes for Texas to be a leader in this industry.' To qualify for the film incentives, a project must be approved by the Music, Film, Television and Multimedia Office under the Governor's Office. To start on Sept. 1, projects will have to employ at least 35% Texans, going up by five percent every two years. The breakdown for total incentives is as follows for feature films and television: In-state spending between $250,000 and $1 million 5% grant based on in-state spending In-state spending between $1 million and $1.5 million 10% grant based on in-state spending In-state spending over $1.5 million 25% grant based on in-state spending The bill includes similar incentives for digital interactive media projects, reality televisions shows, commercials and instructional videos. Adult films, news, political messages, religious services, sporting events, award shows, class projects and casino-type video games are among the projects prohibited from claiming the tax incentives. The bill also includes incentives for certain subcategories. Films promoting Texas heritage Extra grant for 2.5% of in-state spending Films shot in rural counties (>300,000 population) Extra grant for 2.5% of in-state spending Films which spend at least 25% of budget on in-state post-production Extra grant for 1% of in-state spending Films which employ over 2.5% of crew with Texas veterans Extra grant for 2.5% of in-state spending Faith-based films Extra grant for 2.5% of in-state spending Films shot at a Texas historic site Extra grant for 2.5% of in-state spending Films which partner with higher-education students Extra grant for 2.5% of in-state spending SB 22 had a pair of House amendments, so it heads back to the Texas Senate. If they concur with the changes, the bill will be sent to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk to sign. In future years, Media for Texas hopes to increase funding for the program to the initially proposed $500 million every other year. 'We're really excited to show these legislators that the $300 million is all going to be used up in this next two years, and that in 2027 we come back to session, we can look at upping that to 500 million,' Musslewhite said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Metro
18-05-2025
- Metro
Spain rocked by anti-tourist protests disrupting holidays for thousands of Brits
Residents of Spain's Canary Islands have taken to the streets to protest against mass tourism, in a huge demonstration set to disrupt 'out of office' bliss for thousands of British holidaymakers. Tens of thousands are expected to gather on the seven main islands of Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, El Hierro, La Palma, La Gomera and Lanzarote. Under the slogan 'Canarias tiene un limite' (The Canaries has a limit), they are calling on authorities to limit the impact of mass tourism. This includes reducing the number of short-term rentals and creating more affordable homes for people who live on the islands year-round. Solidarity protests are also taking place in Barcelona, Valencia and Madrid, where opposition to foreign tourists has grown over the past year. In 2024, demonstrations swept the Canary Islands as residents lashed out at a festering housing crisis and crumbling infrastructure. In March, the Canary Islands clocked a record number of tourists, with 1.55 million people visiting that month alone. Now, protesters say they are tired of an economy built on mass tourism and inequality that prices people out of their homes. They want the government to switch to a sustainable model that protects the environment and local welfare. The protests lay bare the sentiment ahead of the busy summer season, as little has been done to tackle the problem. In October, thousands of anti-tourism protesters marched across the Canary Islands as sunbathing holidaymakers looked on. In Tenerife, marchers diverted from their expected route and walked across the sand at Troya Beach, one of the most popular in Las Americas, in the south of the island. They yelled 'Canarias No Se Vende' which translates as 'The Canary Islands Are Not For Sale,' beat on drums, blew whistles and waved Canary Island flags, while tourists, including Brits, sunned themselves nearby. Protesters were also heard shouting 'No hay camas pa' tanto guiri' – which translates to 'There's not enough beds for so many foreigners.' One carried a placard that read: 'Enjoying a day at your pool? That water could be going on food' while another had a board that said: 'The Canaries have a limit. More trees, less hotels.' Initial reports pointed to 2,000 people joining the Tenerife march on Sunday, far less than the number in April when the last anti-mass tourism protests took place in the Tenerife capital Santa Cruz. But protester and expat engineer Brian Harrison, who originally hails from Bridgend in Wales but moved to Tenerife in 1991, insisted the turn out was bigger saying: 'You can add a zero to that.' Other anti-tourism marches also took place on Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, El Hierro, and La Palma. In Gran Canaria, protesters hit the streets in Maspalomas, in the south of the island, where most of the hotels British tourists stay at are based. 'Several thousand' people turned up to vent their anger at politicians for failing to tackle the problems campaign groups associate with too many tourists, including affordable housing and environmental problems Some walked behind a large banner that said in Spanish: 'We're foreigners in our own land.' Tourists watched on from hotel rooftops as the protestors walked past them, with reports that locals had taken the opportunity to raise their middle fingers to holidaymakers, who blew kisses back at them. One protestor was filmed being put into handcuffs as onlookers taking part in the march shouted at officers, although it was not immediately clear why the arrest had taken place. The resort of Puerto del Carmen, which is popular with both Brits and Irish tourists, was picked as the centre stage for Lanzarote's protest. But a local paper described the turnout as being 'disappointing', saying: 'It hasn't aroused the same interest as the one held on April 20.' Before the protests got under way, organisers said their regional and island governors had been guilty of 'complete inaction' since the demonstrations six months ago. They said the number of tourists the islands attract, 16 million last year, with 17 million expected to visit the region this year, is unsustainable. Their demands include the introduction of a tourist tax, the paralysation of two macro hotel projects in Tenerife they say are illegal and limits on the purchase of property by non-residents. Meanwhile, one of the speakers at a rally held at the end of the Tenerife march said: 'We need less hire car, improvements in public transport and we need to stop being so many people per square kilometre. 'Each new golf course, each new hotel and each attack on our environment will mean that there will be more people who will join the fight and turn the pain that it causes us into the fuel that drives us to continue this battle.' Ahead of today's marches Mr Harrison, who is actively involved in environmental campaigning had said: 'We're taking our protest to the holiday heartlands this time round and not the island capitals to educate visitors to the fact there's serious problems here, but also because it poses the biggest nightmare to our political leaders that anti mass-tourism demos are going on in tourist areas. 'These politicians go to tourism trade shows around Europe promoting the islands as a paradise and the last thing they want is something like this. 'It was a big decision to do this because none of the 70 groups that made up the 20A movement behind these new protests is against tourism or say there should be no tourism but it had to be taken because nothing's changed since the last ones. 'If anything things have gone backwards with new tourism projects being approved and work on hotels we've flagged up as illegal carrying on and the developers being given more rights. More Trending 'Sunday's protests are going to be noticed by British and Irish tourists holidaying in the Canaries because we're taking our fight to them and want to show them the Canary Islands are not the paradise they've been sold and there are consequences of them being here in the quantities they are.' Half a dozen activists went on hunger strike outside a church in the northern Tenerife town of La Laguna ahead of the last mass anti-tourism protests earlier this year. It began on April 11 and was called off after 20 days. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Europe's 'undertourism capital' has been revealed — with flights from £62 MORE: Everything I ate in a weekend of pintxos hopping in San Sebastián MORE: Kanye's wife Bianca Censori flashes nipples at traditional Spanish market
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Texas House moves toward repealing anti-sodomy law
The Texas House of Representatives took a preliminary vote Thursday in favor of repealing the state's anti-sodomy law, which has been unenforceable since a U.S. Supreme Court decision in a case out of Texas in 2003. Keep up with the latest in + news and politics. The repeal bill, House Bill 1738, must be approved by the House once again before the Texas Senate votes. It's unclear when the next House vote will be, and the Senate's companion bill has not received a committee hearing. Thursday's House vote was 72-55, The Dallas Morning News reports. This marks the farthest a repeal bill has progressed. The Texas anti-sodomy law, along with any others still existing in the nation, was struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court in Lawrence v. Texas in 2003. However, the state still has its law against 'homosexual conduct' on the books, and it could become unenforceable if the high court ever overturns Lawrence, something conservative Justice Clarence Thomas said he'd like to see after the fall of Roe v. Wade in 2022. That would take a case getting to the court. An unusual coalition of Texas legislators got behind the repeal, Texas Monthly reports. The bill's sponsors and cosponsors consist of three Democrats — Venton Jones Jr., Joe Moody, and Ann Johnson — and two Republicans, Brian Harrison and Dade Phelan. Harrison's mission has included 'rolling back LGBTQ rights,' according to Texas Monthly, with specific efforts to ban drag performances at public colleges and universities and remove gender studies from them. However, in supporting the repeal, he issued a statement saying, 'Criminalizing homosexuality is not the role of government, and I support repealing it.' He added, 'I will continue consistently fighting for limited government and individual liberty.' His reasoning for his opposition to drag and gender studies at public institutions of higher education is that these schools are taxpayer-funded. Harrison also once 'bragged about stealing a book on nonmedical gender transition from a [University of Texas] library,' Texas Monthly notes, adding that it's unclear how this action would save tax dollars. Jones, a gay man who is the first openly HIV-positive lawmaker in Texas, spoke Thursday in favor of repeal. 'I'm not asking you to vote based on whether or not you agree with the Lawrence v. Texas ruling,' said Jones, who also the vice chair of the House's LGBTQ Caucus, as quoted by the Morning News. 'Instead, I'm asking you to vote on a law that strengthens the fundamental civil liberties and individual freedoms that all Texans deserve.' Just three members of the public testified in person about the bill, with Jonathan Covey, director of policy for Texas Values, being the only one opposed. 'Some laws don't need to be enforceable to serve a purpose,' he said, according to the Morning News. 'They are declarative and persuasive, and that's what this bill does for those who read about it or know about it. It warns that this conduct is not acceptable.' Moody asked him, 'Is it the position of your organization that homosexuals should be viewed as criminals? Because that's the only reason to keep this statute on the books.' 'The position of our organization is that we don't want to pull something out that's going to make it seem like that homosexuality is more acceptable,' Covey responded. Some other far-right figures have spoken in favor of repeal, including Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas. Justice Thomas even called the anti-sodomy law 'uncommonly silly,' but he said its fate should be up to legislators, not the courts, and he questioned the Supreme Court's basis for striking it down. However, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has said he'd be "willing and able" to defend the sodomy ban if needed. Paxton is challenging Texas's other U.S. senator, John Cornyn, in next year's Republican primary races, as he considers Cornyn insufficiently conservative.
