In the shadow of the picturesque beaches and idyllic landscapes of the Canary Islands, discontent is brewing. Locals and conservationists feel overwhelmed by tourism and are confronted with a crisis that is now culminating in widespread protests. On April 20th the time has come: In Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and La Palma, people take to the streets to vent their anger and demand a rethink, like this “Daily Mail” reported. They consider mass tourism to be a “cancer”.
The picture is shocking: locals sleeping in cars or taking shelter in caves because real estate prices have become unaffordable for them. The trigger – a tourism industry that, in the opinion of those affected, is growing too quickly and devouring resources. “We have nothing against individual tourists,” explains Ivan Cerdena Molina from the Association of Nature Friends of Tenerife (ATAN) to “Olive Press,” “but the industry is growing and consuming so many resources that the island cannot cope with it.”
Outcry against mass tourism in the Canary Islands
The activist group “Canarias se exhausta” (The Canary Islands are exhausted) exemplifies the island-wide movement that is now vigorously calling for change. “It is time to use all means at our disposal to boycott tourism that is driving us out of our own country,” was the unanimous message on social media. The demonstrators are not directed against tourists per se, but they make it clear: The Canary Islands have a limit, and this limit has been reached.
Official warnings about “hostility to tourists”
While one side goes to the barricades, the other warns against hasty conclusions. Government officials and industry representatives urge caution. Rosa Dávila, President of the Tenerife City Council, signals a willingness to work together and improve, but she rejects radical calls to dismantle the tourism model.
Vice President Gabriel Wohlgeschaffen also warns from Ashotel: “The cow that gives milk must be left alone.” The local press, such as the “Canarian Weekly”, summarizes these opinions.
The islands are calling for sustainability
The protest movement doesn’t just see the negative effects on housing. She describes broader problems, such as the overburdening of the healthcare system and the collapse of the waste management system. The drastic loss of biodiversity and the increase in crime are also part of their complaints. The solution they demand is a sustainable growth model that focuses on the coexistence of tourism and population and is highlighted by Radio Europa.