Activists Criticize Officials for Lack of Interest in Major Tenerife Hunger Strike Following Tourist Tax Decision

A hunger strike that began last month in Tenerife as part of mass tourism protests has come to an end after 20 days. Four of the six activists who participated in the hunger strike made the decision to stop eating on Tuesday evening in La Laguna, a town in the north of the island. The other two activists were not present, but were said to be “recovering.”

The activists, who are affiliated with the protest platform Canarias Se Agota, accused the Canary Islands’ regional government of showing “zero interest” in their cause. Despite this, one of the activists expressed gratitude for the social response they received during the hunger strike, stating, “We’ve been amazed at the social response and that’s the best thing we’ll take away from this. I’m very hopeful for the future.”

Canarias Se Agota released a statement after the hunger strike was called off, emphasizing their commitment to continue fighting for a more sustainable model of tourism in the Canary Islands. The hunger strike began on April 11 and was initially announced as an “indefinite” strike.

The activists and their supporters aimed to address issues such as pollution, traffic congestion, and a lack of affordable housing that they attribute to mass tourism. They also sought to halt two tourist projects, including the construction of a five-star hotel near one of Tenerife’s last untouched beaches.

The protests in Tenerife have sparked a larger conversation about the impact of mass tourism on the Canary Islands, with calls for more sustainable practices and measures to control the influx of tourists. The region is now considering implementing a daily tourist tax as part of a new tourism strategy.