Canary Islands tension: Locals demand limits on tourism surge
Thousands of people took to the streets of Spanish cities on Sunday to protest against the excessive number of tourists on the Canary Islands. Residents of the islands are raising the alarm that the influx of travellers has led to increased housing prices and traffic congestion.
Reuters reports that the main slogan of the march was: "The Canary Islands have a limit." The protesters voiced their concerns not only in the Canary Islands but also in mainland Spain, including in Madrid.
Juan Francisco Galindo, a hotel manager in Tenerife, said to Reuters that tourism is very important for the Canary Islands, but people must realize that the collapse is total.
His father owns a small property on the island, for which the local administration issued an expropriation order in 2023 due to the approval of a luxury hotel complex project.
Galindo continued that the 70 square metres they want to expropriate is everything his father has. His health has deteriorated since this happened.
Millions of tourists
According to official statistics, the Canary Islands, inhabited by 2.2 million people, attract a million tourists every day. Hoteliers themselves emphasise that over the last 50-60 years, the number of hotel beds has tripled, and investments have been made in infrastructure. At the same time, housing prices have risen, and problems have emerged regarding access to medical care during the tourist peak.
Similar protests have been organised in the past in Majorca.
