Canary Islands issue simple request to UK tourists: “What we’re asking for is very simple”

Thousands of residents in Lanzarote and Tenerife took to the streets this weekend to protest against the Canary Islands’ “unsustainable” tourism model. The locals are demanding a change in the tourism industry, citing unaffordable living conditions for many residents.

Under the banner “Canarias tiene un límite” (The Canaries have a limit), the protests have gained support from environmental groups such as Greenpeace, WWF, and Friends of the Earth. Víctor Martín, a spokesperson for the Canarias se Agota (The Canaries Have Had Enough), highlighted the imbalance between resource use and the welfare of the population, especially exacerbated over the past year.

The increasing demand for water in urban areas due to tourism has led to a water emergency declaration on Tenerife. With a dry winter and scorching temperatures, restrictions are looming if there is no significant rainfall soon.

Martín emphasized that the issue lies not with the tourists themselves, but with a tourism model that prioritizes profit over the well-being of residents. The protesters are calling for an immediate halt to mega-projects, a tourist moratorium, and a reassessment of the tourism load each island can sustain.

The goal is to shift towards a more sustainable model that benefits natural resources and the local population, rather than catering to the interests of a select few. The protests aim to bring attention to the urgent need for change in the Canary Islands’ tourism industry.