Latest news with #LanzaroteLovesTourism
The Irish Sun
19-05-2025
- The Irish Sun
‘This is only beginning' – Lanzarote locals fight back after Irish ‘cancel trip' alert & thousands hit latest protest
A GROUP of Lanzarote locals have organised a fight-back against anti mass tourism campaigners who daubed the holiday isle with graffiti during yesterday's Canary Islands protests. According to regional government officials Advertisement 6 Thousands marched in protests calling for a freeze on tourist numbers across the Canary Islands yesterday Credit: Alamy Live News 6 Lanzarote Loves Tourism activists have begun a clean-up of the mess the protestors left yesterday Credit: Solarpix 6 In Tenerife around 15,000 people joined the march in the island capital Santa Cruz Credit: Getty Images They also pledged to continue defending the popular British and Irish holiday destination as they painted over offensive messages directed at visitors and criticised those responsible for the graffiti. The clean-up involved men, women and children wearing Lanzarote Loves Tourism T-shirts. A spokesman for the group said overnight: 'Today we have taken another step towards respecting our island. Advertisement READ MORE IN TRAVEL 'Lanzarote Loves Tourism has gone out to cover the graffiti in public spaces with the message that they do not represent those who love our land and that they are not an example in the way they convey their demands. 'We love Lanzarote, and we believe that to defend it is to act but always with a positive message and without destroying what has cost people here so much effort. "It is not just a matter of saying it, but of demonstrating it with deeds. Our landscape, our identity and our culture, our monuments deserve respect. "Thanks to all the people who have joined in. This is only the beginning.' Advertisement Most read in News Travel 'Yes, Lanzarote has a limit, and also a responsibility. And we will protect it.' Inside Tenerife's ongoing war between tourists and locals Protestors They also called on the government to Steve Heapy, chief at Jet2, warned holidaymakers are considering cancelling their trips as protests about overtourism become "increasingly vocal". Advertisement The airline boss added: "Protesters are becoming increasingly vocal, and that's making some people question whether now is the right time to go." Tourists have taken to social media to weight in on the protests, with some claiming they "won't go where we're not wanted". One person said: "If it were me, I'd see if I could go somewhere else. "A holiday is a time of relaxation, time with the family, having to worry about the locals reaction and protest would spoil your enjoyment." Advertisement Another added: "We had a holiday booked to Ibiza but changed it to Greece. The people in Greece are so welcoming. "We used to enjoy Spain but won't go where we're not wanted." 'FLAT & DEFLATED' In Officials said just over 2,000 people took part in Lanzarote, holding up banners with messages including: "Tourist, enjoy, because I can't live here anymore." Advertisement The 23,000 locals officials said supported the protests across the archipelago were way down on the 57,000 people said to have taken part in It is estimated another 3,000 people in Brian Harrison, a Tenerife-based British expat who took part in yesterday's march on the island, accused authorities of lying about the number of people who had participated. He said: "Obviously they are embarrassed and concerned that approximately 100,000 protesters marched, despite the fact that public transport was suspended in many parts of the capital yesterday morning. Advertisement "Over ten per cent of the population of Tenerife took to the streets to protest, and there was not one single violent incident.' WHAT IS OVERTOURISM? OVERTOURISM refers to the phenomenon where a destination experiences a volume of tourists that exceeds its manageable capacity The term is often used to describe the negative consequences of mass tourism, which includes overcrowding and environmental issues As a result, popular destinations have become less enjoyable for both visitors and locals Local communities, in particular, bear the brunt, facing rising costs and a depletion of resources In response, national and local governments have started to implement measures to reduce overtourism Some solutions include: Safeguarding historical and heritage sites Promoting off-peak travel Tourism caps and regulations Promoting lesser-known destinations One of the banners held up in the Tenerife event said in English: 'Tourists swim in s***.' A protestor speaking at a rally staged during the protest claimed: 'Swimming or practising water sports in certain areas of the island has become an act of Russian roulette. 'You can see and smell when the water is contaminated but the beaches are almost never closed, because it's more important to maintain an image for the tourist than look after the health of islanders.' Advertisement The graffiti Lanzarote Loves Tourism cleaned up included a message painted in black capital letters on a white wall saying: '18M Stop Turismo Masivo' which translates as 'Stop Mass Tourism' with a reference to the date of yesterday's marches. One supporter responded by saying on social media: 'Yes, that is defending Lanzarote.' Another added: 'Bravo' with applause emoticons. 6 The demonstrations aim to denounce the current tourism model Credit: Getty Images Advertisement 6 The protests were the third of their kind in the Canaries just over a year Credit: Alamy 6 Activists poured waste and sewage water on pictures of Canary Islands politicans at the protest yesterday Credit: Getty Images
The Sun
05-05-2025
- The Sun
I've visited 100 countries but always go back to these Spanish islands – they love Brits & have the best food & beaches
DESPITE having travelled to more than 100 countries as my time as a travel writer, the place I always return to is much closer to home. Having first visited the Canary Islands in Spain back in 1998, I've been back at least once a year on holiday. 7 7 Here are some of the reasons why it still remains one of my top places to have to go. The locals STILL love the Brits Heard about the anti-tourism protests in the Canaries and wondered if we're still welcome? This year I've been back to four of the eight isles and could not have been more welcomed, with the locals stressing how much they value British visitors. I even stumbled across a counter protest movement with ' Lanzarote Loves Tourism'. The world's most varied archipelago The Canaries are all things to all people. On Tenerife alone you can party at the world's second biggest carnival, bash around the world's best waterpark (Siam Park) and climb a mountain almost three times higher than Britain's Ben Nevis. La Graciosa could be on a different planet. There are no tarmac roads, nevermind an airport. It's a brilliant escape from the modern world, hiking and cycling around rough tracks, up volcanoes and out to windswept beaches. Much more than just British breakfasts You can still tuck into British comfort food across the resorts, but there is far more to savour today. Lanzarote and Gran Canaria boast Michelin star restaurants and foodies flock to Tenerife to dine at eight Michelin star restaurants. Spanish island reveals plans for huge new £4.8billion train routes – connecting beach holiday hotspots 7 Tenerife boasts more Michelin stars than Wales and the Royal Hideaway Corales Resort has more stars than any hotel in Spain with four! And Tenerife just keeps winning stars. This year Il Bocconcino snared one. I dined there just after, with chef Nikki Pavanelli telling me how he reinvents Italian classics using ultra fresh Canarian produce. It's not all posh nosh - my favourite spot is simple, traditional Restaurante Los Abrigos, with as many locals as tourists in the quaint spot by the Atlantic. Ask to view the catch of the day – they'll weigh it and give you a price so you won't get ripped off. 7 Not so Lanzagrotty Michael Palin once unfairly dubbed Lanzarote with this horrible nickname. I've met him since and he insists it was just a joke. In fact Lanzarote is the classiest Canary Isle. It's largely down to one man - madcap artist Cesar Manrique. He persuaded his politician pals to ban huge resorts and tower hotels. He worked on a series of bewitching projects too – he transformed a rubbish tip into the Jameos del Agua, which looks like the lair of James Bond baddy. A great place to stay is family-run Finca de Arrieta, which captures the spirit of Manrique. World-class hiking As a Scot I know when hiking is brilliant. Tenerife has massive variety, as does Gran Canaria, but my top tip is La Palma. I hiked around what the Canarios call 'La Isla Bonita' with Ramble Worldwide earlier this year. It was a joy soaring with our friendly group of largely British retirees up volcanoes, through thick forests and down to the cobalt Atlantic. We witnessed the Tajogaite volcano, created in the massive 2021 eruption you probably saw on TV. It's fascinating to get so close to such recent volcanic activity in an archipelago that is basically just the tips of eight giant volcanoes. 7 Culture beyond the bars The karaoke bars tempt alongside pubs showing British sports in the resorts. Beyond is an archipelago alive with culture. The original inhabitants – before the Spanish piled in – left their traces with carvings and stories that linger through generations. On Tenerife you've got the UNESCO World Heritage listed city of La Laguna with its gorgeous hanging wooden balconies and the world-class Auditorio de Tenerife. Gran Canaria has the old town of La Vegueta and La Gomera was the last place Columbus stopped en route to the Americas. I love jogging around the Torre del Condo, imagining Columbus here in 1492. Bountiful Beaches This is what most people are drawn by, but some of the best are found on the more overlooked islands. Tenerife is not my favourite island for beaches – I prefer the third largest isle, Fuerteventura. The Parque Natural de Corralejo sports mile upon mile of Sahara-esque dunes and gorgeous beaches. It's just south of Corralejo, a resort popular with Brits and is easily my favourite Canarian resort. Corralejo offers the best of all worlds. It sports all the touristy trimmings, plus great walking, epic seafood, a real Spanish vibe and brilliant beaches. Real variety too with kitesurfing, day trips to Lanzarote and a big Italian community. In short it's as wonderfully varied as the Canaries.
