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Daily Record
12-05-2025
- Daily Record
Spain's tourism crisis deepens as Tenerife hotel bookings 'slump' amid local protests
Tenerife has seen a notable 'slump' in hotel bookings, as growing anti-tourist sentiment and planned demonstrations against international visitors continue to rock the Canary Island. There's growing concern on one of Spain's most popular holiday destinations due to a significant drop in hotel bookings. Last year, Tenerife attracted a whopping 6.2 million international visitors, drawn by its consistently warm weather, affordable alcohol, sandy beaches, and renowned water park. However, the influx was met with strong opposition from locals, who claim the surge in demand for holiday rentals is pricing them out of the property market. Additional worries about rowdy tourists damaging the island's national parks and causing traffic congestion have led to widespread protests across Spain, with disgruntled locals demanding that holidaymakers 'go home'. Earlier this year, The Mirror reported on Spain's grim warning to tourists ahead of the busy summer season, as activists pledged to ramp up their actions against sun-seeking Brits. This comes amid rising anti-tourist sentiment nationwide, which has even turned violent at times. In March, a chilling sign reading 'Kill A Tourist' was spotted in Tenerife. There were later reports of protesters going to extreme lengths to convey their message, including setting rental cars on fire. While tourists initially seemed unfazed by the escalating tensions at the start of the year, with 775,205 international visitors flocking to the Canary Islands in January - a 3.05-per cent increase from 2024, it seems holidaymakers are finally heeding the warnings. the Mirror. Pedro Aldonso, president of the CEOE business association in Tenerife, spoke about the recent industrial action during the Easter holidays and reportedly cautioned that 'every small collapse has an echo in trust'. He said: "When confidence falls, investment comes to a halt," he said, as he urged for a return to 'dialogue, trust, and common sense'. According to Canarian Weekly, the tourism chief added: "This is not about making headlines. It's about safeguarding jobs," suggesting that the slump could be swiftly rectified by a surge in 'last-minute' holiday bookings. Spain's deepening housing crisis and planned protests against tourism could benefit destinations like Turkey, which is anticipating a record-breaking number of visitors this year. As previously reported, Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Ersoy said the country was experiencing a tourist boom - especially amongst Russian, German, and UK holidaymakers. The politician added: "Turkey has become the country with the highest number of early reservations in Germany. "We aim to welcome over seven million visitors from both Russia and Germany this year. Additionally, we expect 4.8 million visitors from the UK in 2025." Protestors have even defaced hugely important heritage sites on the isle of Majorca. Police are seeking the individual or group responsible for spraying explicit messages on buildings visited every day by tourists. The graffiti, which is in Catalan but in English means "f***ing tourists" and "get out of our city" has appeared in an area of high monumental and cultural value in the Majorcan capital of Palma. One of the buildings attacked is the Royal Palace of La Almudaina, which dates back to the 14th century, and is the official residence of the King and Queen during their stays in Majorca. Together with the Cathedral of Palma it is a landmark of the capital of the Balearic Islands.
Daily Mirror
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Mirror Daily Digest: Top stories from new pope elected to police charge BBC star
In this Wednesday's Mirror Daily Digest, we've pulled together the biggest stories of the day from Welcome to the Mirror's Daily Digest, where we'll be pulling together all the best stories of the day from our News, Showbiz, Sport teams and more. Today, we're featuring everything from the new pope being revealed after just two days of conclave to a BBC star being charged by police under the Terrorism Act 2000. This Thursday, a new pope has been elected after white smoke bellowed from the Sistine Chapel chimney - as 133 cardinals finally reached a verdict. Elsewhere, a Bargain Hunt star has become the first person to be charged with a specific offence under section 21A of the Terrorism Act 2000, the Met has said and our politics team have been chasing the details surrounding Starmer and Trump's trade deal. New Pope chosen as white smoke billows from Sistine Chapel chimney This afternoon, white smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel signifying a new pope being elected. The 133 cardinals involved in the secretive conclave finally reached a verdict. Cardinals had returned to the Sistine Chapel on Thursday to resume voting for a new pope, after a first conclave ballot failed to find a winner and sent black smoke billowing through the chapel chimney. They had to secure the two-thirds majority, or 89 ballots, necessary to become the 267th pope. Casting and counting ballots for a new pope had have taken longer than expected on Wednesday evening because of the large number of cardinals participating and the linguistic diversity among them. The electors hail from 70 countries, and not all speak or understand Italian fluently, which could have slowed down the proceedings if help with translation was needed. BBC Bargain Hunt star charged by police after investigation into terrorist financing This morning, our showbiz team broke the news that Bargain Hunt star Ogheneochuko 'Ochuko' Ojiri has been charged by the Metropolitan Police after an investigation into terrorist financing by officers from the National Terrorist Financial Investigation Unit (NTFIU). In a statement, the Met said: "Following authorisation from the Crown Prosecution Service, he has been charged with eight counts of failing to make a disclosure during the course of business within the regulated sector, contrary to section 21A of the Terrorism Act 2000." The charges relate to a period from October 2020 until December 2021. The Antiques Road Trip star, 53, is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday, 9 May. According to the Met, the 53-year-old was the first person to be charged with a specific offence under section 21A of the Terrorism Act 2000. Keir Starmer hails 'fantastic day' after Donald Trump trade agreement Throughout this Thursday, there have been growing murmurs of a new UK-US trade deal, especially after Trump hailed it a 'very big and exciting day'. The deal was finally announced this afternoon by Starmer and Trump, with the British PM hailing a huge victory after reaching a historic trade agreement with the US that reduces damaging tariffs. In a press conference in the Oval Office, Donald Trump said the agreement - which the UK Government says will save thousands of jobs - is "so good for both countries". Car export tariffs will reduce from 27.5% to 10% - this will apply to a quota of 100,000 UK cars, almost the total the UK exported last year. The UK steel industry will no longer face tariffs as well. Speaking from the Oval Office, the US President lavished praise of "terrific" PM Keir Starmer and said the UK is "one of our greatest allies." It comes after Mr Trump teased the move overnight, saying: "This should be a very big and exciting day for the United States of America and the United Kingdom." The Who retiring as Pete Townsend says 'Everyone needs to know the truth' In a bombshell statement, one of Britain's most iconic rock bands have announced they are retiring from touring after 60 years after one last set of dates. The Who's Pete Townshend said at a London press conference to announce the tour: 'Everyone needs to know the truth…. I can't lie…. I am not crazy about touring.' They are playing 16 shows in North America, and insiders hope they will later come to Europe, including dates in the UK. The show is called The Song Is Over, which is also the name of their new single. Speaking on video link, Roger Daltrey added: 'It will have to come to an end one day.' He said: "Pete (Townshend) is still playing great guitar, the music's still got the vitality that suits it, because it's something about the way Pete's music is written, the way it's shaped, the sentiment behind it, it doesn't seem to age like a lot of rock music does.' Roger added: 'Us out there performing for the last time is a thank you for fans.' VE Day as it happened live in 1945 as Brits celebrated end of WW2 in Europe Eighty years ago today, millions of Britons took to the streets to celebrate the defeat of Nazi Germany and the end of World War 2. News that the war had ended in Europe was broadcast by the BBC over the radio to a delighted public late on May 7. Brits were told the following day, May 8, would be a national holiday called Victory in Europe Day. It led to incredible scenes with events organised across the country, including parades and street parties, as communities came together to mark the end of nearly six years of war. On VE Day, Winston Churchill made a national radio broadcast and later appeared in central London in front of huge cheering crowds. And this Thursday, as the country marked the 80th anniversary, you can follow events as they happened live back in 1945 through our unique live blog. Our features team have marked all the key moments of the day and shared some of the unforgettable images and coverage so you can relive one of the most important days in British history.
