Residents of the Canary Islands Rally Against Mass Tourism

The Canary Islands are witnessing an escalating movement among residents protesting against the region's mass tourism strategy, which many believe contributes to various social and environmental crises. Locals are voicing their concerns over issues such as pollution, inadequate healthcare, rising living costs, poor working conditions, and exorbitant rents.

A coalition named 'Canarias tiene un límite' (Canaries at Limit) is at the forefront of these protests, blaming the autonomous island community's tourism policies, which prioritize increasing visitor numbers over addressing critical warning signs from both the environment and the population. Since 2024, residents and members of the Canarian diaspora have consistently taken to the streets to express their dissent. Recent demonstrations occurred on May 18, spanning not only the Canary Islands but also several cities in mainland Spain and even Berlin.

In April 2024, ten activists from the group 'Canarias Se Agota' (Canaries Are Running Out) initiated a hunger strike in Tenerife under the slogan 'our bodies for our land.' Six of the activists maintained their strike for 19 days. Recently, significant strikes occurred among service and hospitality workers demanding fair wages and improved working conditions.

Tourism associations have criticized the protesting residents, arguing that their actions threaten the very foundation of their livelihoods. The tourism sector accounts for approximately 35% of the Canary Islands' economic output. However, many workers in the service and hotel industries report that they do not share in the economic benefits. Alistair Adam Hernández, a member of the Asociación Tinerfeña de Amigos de la Naturaleza (ATAN), pointed out that the current tourism model extracts value from the islands without providing any sustainable benefits.

While the Canarian GDP saw a growth of 5.4% in 2024 alongside increasing tourist numbers, the quality of life for residents has noticeably declined. In 2024 alone, around 16 million tourists visited the islands, with 21.7% being German nationals. Statistics for the first quarter of the current year suggest even higher visitor numbers.

Compounding these issues is the escalating housing crisis. Rental prices in the Santa Cruz de Tenerife region surged by 21.9% over the past year, which is double the national average. This spike is attributed to property owners opting to rent their homes as vacation accommodations instead of offering them at reasonable rates to locals. Consequently, more residents are being pushed out of urban areas.

The coalition 'Canarias tiene un límite' has called for a halt to new tourism complex constructions and stricter regulations on vacation rentals. They argue that a pause in tourism activities is essential to develop a more sustainable tourism strategy.

Importantly, the coalition emphasizes that their protests are not directed against tourists themselves, who are simply taking advantage of available offerings. Instead, they seek to hold politicians accountable, as local and regional administrations have previously been implicated in corruption scandals involving the construction and hotel industries. The resulting lobbying has led to extremely lax land-use regulations, permitting the development of new hotel facilities in ecologically sensitive areas.

With a population of approximately 2.2 million, the Canary Islands are recognized for their rich biodiversity and multicultural heritage, making their environmental protection crucial. The local population is increasingly aware of the pressing issues and is engaged in active discussions about regaining decision-making power to transform the current economic model for the long term. Hernández expresses hope for fresh political leadership that can support this initiative.