The Canary Islands have been welcoming tourists since the 1960s, and each of the islands offers beautiful scenery, gorgeous beaches, and a year-round mild climate, making them a popular winter sun spot.
However, locals are becoming increasingly frustrated with high tourism numbers. Thousands of protestors took to the streets on Sunday armed with banners reading ‘The Canaries have a limit’, according to Reuters. Similar protests also took place in cities on mainland Spain, including Barcelona, Madrid and Valencia.
This might be slightly worrying news for those who have trips booked to the Canary Islands. Here is everything you need to know about the protests.
Why are there protests against overtourism?
It all comes down to quality of life for locals. Locals claim overtourism is to blame for many issues on the Canary Islands, including increasing house and rental prices, traffic congestion, over-stretched services and even detrimental effects on the water supplies.
The protests are part of a wider anti-tourism movement across Spain that has led to worries of a ‘tourism ban’.
What is the aim of these protests in the Canary Islands?
As euronews reports, organisers outlined the protests were to oppose the current economic model based on ‘overtourism, speculation, inequality and infinite growth on very limited land.’ People want a more environmentally-conscious, people-centred model, which would involve halting large hotel projects, guaranteed access for residents to healthcare and housing, and a functional ecological tourist tax.
They also want measures in place to curb marine pollution, and the creation of an environmental restoration law.
According to official data, around 1 million people visit the islands each month, which are collectively home to around 2.2 million permanent residents.
‘The goal is not tourism quality, but that more and more tourists come,’ explained Sirlene Alonso, who lives in Gran Canaria and spoke to Reuters. ‘The number of tourists and people who come to live here is crushing us.’
Last week we reported that Tenerife has just introduced daily visitor caps at some of its nature reserves, as well as a new tourist tax. However, the main message of the protests was urging authorities to limit the number of visitors by introducing caps, potentially island-wide.
Is it safe to travel to the Canary Islands right now?
The UK government has not updated its Spain travel page to advise against travelling there, but the safety and security page has a section on protests which reads: ‘Demonstrations, political gatherings or marches can take place with little or no warning, particularly in cities. Follow the advice of police and local authorities.’
‘While most demonstrations are peaceful, there is a risk of unrest or violence. If you’re near areas where demonstrations are taking place, be aware of what is happening around you and move away if there are signs of disorder.’
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