Mass Tourism Sparks Massive Protests in Spain’s Canary Islands

Thousands of protestors took to the streets of Tenerife over the weekend, demanding a freeze on tourist arrivals to the Spanish island. The demonstrators, armed with signs that read “People live here” and “We don’t want to see our island die,” are calling for a halt to short-term holiday rentals and hotel construction that are driving up housing costs for residents.

Environmental groups such as Greenpeace, WWF, and Friends of the Earth are supporting the protestors in their fight against the current tourism model. Rosario Correa, Secretary of the ‘Salvar Chira-Soria’ platform, emphasized that the issue is not with tourism itself, but with a model that is causing the deterioration of the land and its people.

Eleven individuals from Canarias se Agota have been on a week-long fast to protest against the construction of luxury projects in southern Tenerife, which they believe are unnecessary and harmful to the environment. The protests in Tenerife drew a large crowd, with police estimating around 20 thousand participants, while organizers claim the number was closer to 50 thousand.

The demonstrations have also spread to Madrid and Barcelona, where people are showing solidarity with the protestors in the Canary Islands. Locals argue that tourism is depleting natural resources and driving up rental prices, making it increasingly unaffordable for residents. With tourism contributing 35% to the archipelago’s GDP, generating €16.9 billion in 2022 alone, the protestors are calling for a more sustainable and equitable tourism model.