Mass Demonstrations in the Canary Islands Against Overtourism
Thousands rally across the archipelago, demanding action to curb the impacts of mass tourism amid rising visitor numbers.
On Sunday, thousands of individuals took to the streets of the Canary Islands, reiterating their call for action against the excesses of mass tourism.
This demonstration occurred as Spain approaches another record year in tourist attendance.
Organized by the platform "Canarias tiene un límite" ("The Canary Islands have a limit"), protesters gathered at midday across the seven islands of the archipelago, located off the northwest coast of Africa.
Demonstrators carried placards with messages such as "The Canaries are not for sale" and "The Canaries are no longer a paradise," advocating for a "change of model" and solutions to the repercussions of overtourism.
This marks the third demonstration organized by the platform within a year, reflecting persistent concerns within the community.
Among the measures requested during this protest were regulations on rental prices and a freeze on new tourist construction projects.
According to local authorities, approximately 7,000 people participated in the demonstration on the island of Tenerife, the largest of the archipelago.
Additional estimates included 3,000 participants in Gran Canaria, 1,500 in Lanzarote, and around 1,000 in Fuerteventura.
Local associations have long criticized the tourism model, asserting that it disproportionately benefits investors at the expense of the environment and local residents, who face rising rental costs.
These voices have expressed frustration at feeling unheard by public officials, especially considering that four out of ten residents in the Canaries are employed in the tourism sector, which constitutes 36% of the region's GDP.
Spain remains the second most popular tourist destination in the world, following France, having welcomed 17.1 million international visitors in the first quarter of 2023, setting a new record.
The Canary Islands, with a population of 2.24 million, received 4.36 million foreign tourists in just three months and are projected to approach another historic attendance, following the arrival of 15.2 million visitors in 2022.
This demonstration occurred as Spain approaches another record year in tourist attendance.
Organized by the platform "Canarias tiene un límite" ("The Canary Islands have a limit"), protesters gathered at midday across the seven islands of the archipelago, located off the northwest coast of Africa.
Demonstrators carried placards with messages such as "The Canaries are not for sale" and "The Canaries are no longer a paradise," advocating for a "change of model" and solutions to the repercussions of overtourism.
This marks the third demonstration organized by the platform within a year, reflecting persistent concerns within the community.
Among the measures requested during this protest were regulations on rental prices and a freeze on new tourist construction projects.
According to local authorities, approximately 7,000 people participated in the demonstration on the island of Tenerife, the largest of the archipelago.
Additional estimates included 3,000 participants in Gran Canaria, 1,500 in Lanzarote, and around 1,000 in Fuerteventura.
Local associations have long criticized the tourism model, asserting that it disproportionately benefits investors at the expense of the environment and local residents, who face rising rental costs.
These voices have expressed frustration at feeling unheard by public officials, especially considering that four out of ten residents in the Canaries are employed in the tourism sector, which constitutes 36% of the region's GDP.
Spain remains the second most popular tourist destination in the world, following France, having welcomed 17.1 million international visitors in the first quarter of 2023, setting a new record.
The Canary Islands, with a population of 2.24 million, received 4.36 million foreign tourists in just three months and are projected to approach another historic attendance, following the arrival of 15.2 million visitors in 2022.
