Latest news with #turistas
Russia Today
3 days ago
- Climate
- Russia Today
Volcano eruption causes panic in Italy (VIDEO)
Thick columns of smoke and ash streamed into the sky above eastern Sicily as Mount Etna, Europe's largest and most active volcano, erupted on Monday, forcing dozens of tourists to flee the area. The Italian National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) reported that a partial collapse in the volcano's southeastern crater likely triggered the eruption. Lava fountains and large plumes of volcanic ash reached an altitude of approximately 6,400 meters (about 4 miles), according to the Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre. Aviation authorities issued a 'code red' alert for flights operating in the region, which was later downgraded to orange. Some flights experienced delays due to the volcanic cloud. Videos captured by hikers and visitors showed terrified tourists fleeing down the mountainside as black smoke billowed from the summit. Media reports suggest that about 40 tourists were on the volcano at the time of the eruption but they all appear to have been safely escorted away from the area. No injuries or fatalities have been reported. 🇮🇹ITALIA Erupción inesperada del volcán Etna en Sicilia 🇮🇹Este 2 de junio, el Etna tuvo una fuerte explosión repentina que provocó pánico entre turistas y visitantes, quienes huyeron ante la lluvia de cenizas y material volcánico.#Etna#volcán#erupció Volcanologists at INGV said the activity began with a strong volcanic tremor located about 2.7km below the summit crater. The tremor reportedly intensified for several hours before lava and pyroclastic material were expelled. The explosion follows weeks of minor seismic activity in the region. 🌋 Il momento della colata piroclastica nel versante sud-est dell'Etna ripreso dalla telecamera di Santa Venerina della Protezione Civile Regione Sicilia. Nel secondo video, di Mario Denaro, la fuga degli escursionisti e dei visitatori della direzione della colata. Despite the explosive nature of the eruption, the material flow from the volcano did not reach the Lion Valley, an area located at an altitude of approximately 2,800 meters and frequented by hikers. Officials said this means that there is currently no danger to residents. Euruzione # 'According to initial data, the material has not reached the edge of the Leon Valley, and, as I have been assured, there is no danger to the population,' Sicilian President Renato Schifani stated. An official update later declared that the ash cloud emission had ended by the afternoon. Nevertheless, the authorities urged the public to exercise 'extreme caution' and avoid high-altitude areas around the volcano due to the risk of sudden explosive activity. Local civil protection officials have not ordered a full evacuation, but patrols have been deployed to monitor access to Etna's slopes.
Times
20-05-2025
- Times
Spain orders 65,000 Airbnbs to close in fightback against mass tourism
The Spanish government has ordered Airbnb to block more than 65,000 holiday listings on its platform for rule violations, the consumer rights ministry said. The Spanish authorities' attempts to prevent another summer of discontent over surging tourism have led to curbs on rental flats across the country. The regional government of the Balearic Islands is also attempting to stop a 'massive influx of tourists' drawn by images posted online by influencers, La Vanguardia newspaper reported. In recent months tens of thousands of Spaniards have taken to the streets protesting against rising housing and rental costs, which many say have been driven up by holiday rentals on platforms such as Airbnb that have proliferated in popular tourist destinations. 'Enough with protecting those who make a
Daily Mail
19-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Easyjet releases statement following anti-tourism protests in Spain
easyJet has released a statement after residents across the Canary Islands came out in full force over the weekend to protest again mass tourism - leaving holidaymakers cowering in hotels. Tens of thousands of fed up locals kicked off demonstrations at 11am on 18 May on the seven main islands of Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, El Hierro, La Palma, La Gomera and Lanzarote. Furious residents marched with the slogan 'Canarias tiene un limite' (The Canaries has a limit, while slogans were chanted such as: 'El dinero del turismo, donde está?', meaning 'The money from tourism, where is it?' Dressed in yellow shirts and carrying placards, they demanded authorities do more to limit tourism's impact on the area, such as reducing the number of short-term rentals and creating more affordable homes for locals. Dozens of armed officers from the National Police were seen on patrol, as protesters were heard blowing through enormous shells to make a loud horn-like noise, while banging on drums. The upheaval has left many holidaymakers too frightened to venture outside, as Irish tourist Alberto Babo shared that he's holed himself up in his Airbnb accommodation 'just to be safe.' easyJet, a European carrier frequently used by UK visitors to Spain, has assured it haven't had yet encountered any issues with customers regarding anti-tourist protests. A spokesperson added in a statement: 'Local policymakers have a range of tools to address impacts on local communities that may identify issues, including promoting other destinations. Scores of fed-up locals kicked off demonstrations across the archipelago from 11am, including in Tenerife, where thousands of Brits are currently holidaying 'As such they would be better placed to help you on this matter as transport operators including airlines are simply serving the demand that exists.' Demonstrators have also taken to the streets in Barcelona, Valencia and Madrid, as tensions towards tourists have continued to rise over the last year. In April, locals fired water pistols at a tour bus outside Barcelona's Sagrada Familia, as they warned of bigger protests this summer. On Sunday, in Lanzarote, an Irish holidaymaker revealed he was too scared to leave his AirBnB. Alberto Babo, 32, told MailOnline: 'I didn't go out today due to the protests, I'm stuck in my Airbnb to avoid the crowds. I hope they are not violent or anything but just to be safe I'm here. All I can hear is the noise.' One placard read: 'Stop excessive tourism… this is our home,' while another said: 'My misery is your paradise'. A banner declared the Canary Islands 'is no longer a paradise' thanks to tourism. Another sign was inscribed with the words: 'tourists swim in s**t', referencing the large amount of sewage water that is dumped into the sea - the majority of it, activists say, coming from hotels and tourist accommodations. Other placards in Spanish said: 'Don't sell your homes to guiris!' Guiri is a Spanish slang word for British and other tourists. Protesters in Barcelona hold up signs which read: 'No queda paraiso para Lxs Canaria,' translating to 'There is no paradise left for the Canary Islands' Protesters were heard blowing through enormous shells to make a loud horn-like noise, while banging on drums Tourism minister for Tenerife, Lope Alfonso, has since announced that he will reach out to the activists to 'discuss the future of the islands' Another housing issue is the high number of properties being snapped up by foreign purchasers, which locals say is behind skyrocketing prices Thousands of people protested against the tourism model and mass tourism 'We are not against individual tourists, just those who don't respect the rules, who throw trash and pollute and commit crimes. 'We have toilets that are closed on our beaches because they are contaminated by sewage. 'Since our historic protest last year the government has done nothing, they have actually increased the number of tourists coming and we don't have enough room. 'The traffic is so bad when they are here; a 15-minute journey takes one hour. 'The number of Airbnbs is too high and there is nowhere to rent, it is catastrophic for the island.' It comes after the Canary Islands government said it wants to hold emergency talks with the activists following a plunge in British bookings. Santiago Sese, president of the region's Chamber of Commerce, expressed concern on Friday after revealing the number of British reservations for this summer have fallen by 8 per cent year-on-year in Tenerife. Sese revealed the troubling numbers while presenting the Economic Situation Report for 2025, reports regional newspaper El Dia. Among the protesters is Paula McKnight Morales, 39, whose father is from the US but who grew up on the islands They want to ban on any new hotels or tourism apartment complexes from being built Demonstrators could also be heard shouting 'Canarias No Se Vende', meaning 'The Canary Islands Are Not For Sale,' while they blew whistles and proudly held Canary Island flags in the sky. Marchers also echoed the chant 'No hay cams pa' tanto guiri', translating to 'There's not enough beds for so many foreigners.' While another placard read: 'Enjoying a day at your pool? That water could be going on food.' According to Metro, there were initially 2,000 marchers expected to participate in the march this Sunday - a significantly lower number than an April protest against anti-tourism in Tenerife's capital, Santa Cruz. Holidaymakers looked on from rooftops as protesters marched by, as locals reportedly took the opportunity to pull the middle finger towards tourist, who allegedly did kissing gestures back. Among the protesters is Paula McKnight Morales, 39, whose father is from the US but who grew up on the islands. The swimming instructor told MailOnline: 'Spain has become the after party for Europe, and Tenerife has more tourists per year than Brazil, we don't have room. Tourism minister for Tenerife, Lope Alfonso, has since announced that he will reach out to the activists to 'discuss the future of the islands'. Alfonso said the government has been working on a model to 'achieve a balance between the interests of residents and tourists.' Tourism minister for Tenerife, Lope Alfonso said the government has been working on a model to 'achieve a balance between the interests of residents and tourists.' Activists are calling for a cap on the number of holidaymakers, to prevent overcrowding and resource depletion According to Sese, there are signs of a decline in the number of tourists, with the British market among the most affected. He said competing countries like Turkey, Greece, Egypt, and neighbouring Morocco have all seen their bookings increase. He regretted that the advertising campaigns specifically targeting the UK are not having an impact. It follows a series of widely-reported 'anti-tourism' protests across Spain that have made many Brits feel unwelcome. But the 'Canaries has a limit' (Canarias tiene un limite) movement, which is behind the protests this weekend, has seemingly rejected the olive branch. Referencing the government's offer of a dialogue it wrote: 'Dialogue? We want facts. 'The rest are attempts to calm what's coming: a social uprising demanding a fair model for the Canary Islands, where bosses, lobbyists, and corrupt officials have no place. See you this Sunday.' The Canary Islands has a population of 2.2million people, but welcomes around 18million holidaymakers each year - which locals say is placing a strain on resources, causing jet fuel pollution, traffic chaos and a host of other issues. Thousands of protestors gathered in Tenerife with flags and drums For this reason, activists are calling for a cap on the number of holidaymakers, to prevent overcrowding and resource depletion. Among their other demands is a ban on any new hotels or tourism apartment complexes, and the immediate demolition of projects already declared illegal. These include large-scale luxury projects like the Cuna del Alma and La Tejita hotels in Tenerife, which they accuse of causing environmental harm. They also want a 'significant' tourist eco-tax that will be used to pay for the conservation and maintenance of natural spaces.
The Sun
16-05-2025
- Climate
- The Sun
More dramatic storms smash Spain as hail warning issued with streets turned to RIVERS & Benidorm Brits left soaked
SPAIN has been battered by another wave of wild weather as freak hail storms turned streets into rivers and left holidaymakers in Benidorm soaked. The latest lashing comes as a yellow weather alert was issued across parts of the country, warning of torrential rain and hail. 7 7 7 7 7 The storms hit southern and southeastern Spain on Thursday, hammering regions including Almería, Murcia, Granada, and parts of the Costa Blanca – with the popular British hotspot of Benidorm right in the firing line. In Librilla in Murcia, 37 litres of rain per square metre reportedly fell in just 30 minutes, sparking sudden flash floods. Shocking videos shared on social media show water gushing down streets, hail pelting rooftops, and cars trying to navigate rising floodwaters. Locals and tourists alike were caught off guard, with many dashing for shelter as the skies opened without warning. Spain's state weather agency, Aemet, issued alerts across several regions as the storms rolled in, warning of 'potential hail' and advising people to remain indoors. The sudden downpour followed days of unsettled spring weather, marking yet another chaotic chapter in what's become one of the wettest Mays in recent memory. Authorities have urged caution, particularly for travellers heading to affected areas. Spain's Civil Protection agency issued multiple warnings for heavy rain, strong winds, and storms, with guidance focused on popular destinations like Valencia, Almería, Majorca and Barcelona. By Thursday evening, most alerts had been lifted, and forecasters expect calmer conditions from Friday, though isolated showers and storms may persist, especially inland and in the Balearic Islands. Shock vids show hols hotspot Valencia SWAMPED with freak rain & hail as 'cyclonic supercell' storm pummels Spain Tourists are advised to monitor local forecasts and follow official advice. Emergency services were deployed across multiple regions to respond to flooding, blocked roads, and waterlogged properties. In some areas, storm drains overflowed within minutes, and local authorities struggled to respond to the volume of calls from residents and businesses affected by the flooding. In Orihuela and Elche, hailstones the size of marbles were reported pounding windows, while footage from Almería showed cars half-submerged and people wading through knee-deep water. The suddenness of the storms left little time to prepare, with many scrambling to protect homes and vehicles. Lightning lit up skies across the southeast and east coast, prompting additional safety warnings. Experts say the storms were intensified by a cold air mass colliding with warm, moist conditions over the Iberian Peninsula — a mix that often triggers sudden, violent weather outbreaks. Meteorologists at Aemet warn that more unsettled weather may return early next week, especially in higher altitude and coastal areas. While temperatures may rise slightly, unstable atmospheric conditions raise the risk of further showers and hailstorms. Local businesses in tourist zones report a drop in foot traffic and last-minute cancellations. Many bar and restaurant owners in Benidorm say fewer people are dining out as tourists opt to stay indoors. Travel firms are monitoring the situation, with some advising customers to reconsider trips to the hardest-hit areas. Flights have not seen major disruptions, but officials urge travellers to stay in contact with airlines as conditions can shift quickly. Despite the chaos, authorities say flood management systems have improved in several urban areas — leaving them better prepared than in previous years. 7 7
Sky News
15-05-2025
- Sky News
Why are residents protesting against tourism in the Canary Islands?
Residents from across the Canary Islands are planning a mass demonstration against a tourism model they say has plundered the environment, priced them out of housing and forced them into precarious work. Demonstrations will reportedly take place on Sunday in a number of locations across the seven main islands, which are home to 2.2 million people, as well as several places in mainland Spain and one in Berlin, Germany. A similar demonstration took place last April, in which thousands of people took to the streets of Tenerife calling for the government to temporarily limit the arrival of tourists in order to stem a boom in short-term holiday rentals and hotel construction that is driving up housing costs for locals. Protesters took increasingly extreme measures, with one group going on an "indefinite" hunger strike, but said the protests were not aimed at individual tourists but government officials. This year, protesters are continuing calls for a shift to a people-centred, ecologically responsible tourism model over one that favours investors at the expense of local communities. They are demanding a number of initiatives, including the halting and demolition of high-profile projects and hotel construction, the implementation of a tourist tax and the protection of Canarian identity and culture, according to the local newspaper, Canarian Weekly. The tourism industry accounts for around 35% of the Canary Islands' gross domestic product (GDP). In March this year, 1.7million tourists travelled to the islands - 32% of those were from the British Isles. Sky News spoke to local residents last year who agreed the islands can't survive without tourism. However, they were questioning whether local communities and the environment could survive if things stayed the way they were. What's the problem? Tourism is a 'cash cow' - but not for locals If you're looking for what's behind the wave of protests, you need to look back decades, Sharon Backhouse told Sky News last year. Along with her Canarian husband, she owns GeoTenerife, which runs science field trips and training camps in the Canary Islands and conducts research into sustainable tourism. The tourism model in the Canary Islands hasn't been updated since before the tourism boom of the 1980s, when the islands were "trying desperately" to attract investment, she explained. The answer back then was a model that was "incredibly generous" to investors, who only pay 4% tax and can send the profits earned in the Canaries back to the firm's home country, Ms Backhouse explained. But the model hasn't changed. That's created a situation where "more and more of these giant, all inclusive resort hotels" are being built, and the proceeds of this "incredible cash cow" aren't shared equitably with the local population, she said. "It is absurd to have a system where so much money is in the hands of a very few extremely powerful groups, and is then funnelled away from the Canary Islands," she said. 'Shanty towns' in the shadow of luxury One of the main issues is the dearth of affordable or social housing, Andy Ward, director of Tenerife Estate Agents, told Sky News last year. "The governments here have completely neglected this need, instead selling land for more hotels and selling land for luxury villas and high-end apartments, which locals are unable to afford." 0:45 What caused anger was property managers renting out properties to tourists that are "completely inappropriate and inadequate", such as small apartments in residential buildings. The regulations on short-term lets "are a complete mess and a mish-mash", Mr Ward said. Landlords aren't incentivised to let their properties long-term because they must sign up to long leases, and if tenants default on the rent it can take 18 months to evict them. "Shanty towns" is what Ms Backhouse calls them, built in the shadow of "uber luxury hotels". Coupled with this, Mr Ward said the average wage for restaurant staff and cleaners was between €1,050 (£855) and €1,300 (£1,095) a month, while the cost of renting an apartment can be almost as much. A report by the environmental group Ecologists in Action showed more than a third of the population of the Canary Islands - nearly 800,000 people - are at risk of poverty or social exclusion. The environmental cost of tourism The Canary Islands are a "biodiversity jewel in the Atlantic", Ms Backhouse said - but they haven't been fully protected or valued. She said the building of new tourist resorts has an environmental cost as "beautiful landscapes are cemented over" - and the costs only mounts once they open. Ms Backhouse said politicians have said in the past that the development of controversial hotel resorts can't be stopped "just because of a weed". But she argued that these high-profile projects interfere with the entire ecosystem. "The problem with these resorts is that we just don't have enough resources in terms of water, what happens to all the rubbish, how is it all recycled," she said. "Locals are feeling disenfranchised from their spaces because it all becomes tourist territory. Towns and villages that locals grew up in or would go on holiday in suddenly are completely unrecognisable." What solutions are on the table? The proposal of implementing a tourist tax intensified after last year's protest. But no rules applying to the entire region have been put in place. A €0.15 per day tourist fee has been implemented in the town of Mogan in Gran Canaria, but this was after much backlash by the Federation of Hospitality and Tourism Entrepreneurs of Las Palmas - a professional organisation that represents tourism businesses in the province. The tax was initially suspended by a judge on the island a day after being introduced, but was reinstated in March following another court ruling. Ms Backhouse said the hotel industry was against the idea of a tourist tax and the government was nervous about it. But research from the Tourist Spending Survey by the Canary Islands Institute of Statistics (ISTAC), indicates it wouldn't put tourists off. "I think the reality is very few people will cancel their holiday because they have to pay a little bit of money that goes towards protecting the landscapes they're coming to see," she said. Impending crackdown on holiday homes On 15 May this year, the Canary Islands regional tourism chief Jessica de Leon held a seminar to discuss a draft law which aims to implement stricter controls on the expansion of holiday homes. Under the law, dubbed the Vacation Rental Law, newly built properties will be banned from being used by tourists for 10 years after construction. It will also prohibit entire residential buildings from being converted into holiday lets. The government argues that the law will prevent developers from designing and selling properties explicitly for tourist rental use from the outset, which has driven up property prices and distorted the housing market, and curb the spread of unregulated tourist accommodations disguised as residential buildings Officials are pushing for the law to pass in parliament by the end of 2025, according to Canarian Weekly.
