Tenerife discussing new rules for UK tourists because island is 'not theme park'

Tenerife is planning to introduce an eco-tax and new rules for UK tourists flocking to the nation amid the spring and summer months. Tenerife and the Canary Islands have seen rising tension between holidaymakers and tourists and the locals.

Tenerife President Rosa Dávila signalled she is willing to listen to the locals' plea as they demonstrate across Tenerife and Lanzarote over "overtourism". Ms Dávila argued the island part of the Canaries archipelago "cannot be a theme park" only catering to its visitors.

She said: "We must analyse the exceptionalities that can be applied in a territory as fragile and limited as ours. What is clear is that Tenerife cannot be a theme park. Those who visit us have to value and respect our natural and cultural wealth, our resources, and they have to be clear about the rules for their preservation. In addition, there have to be limits to prevent tourism from overflowing."

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President of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, said on Friday he is open to considering a tourist tax. He said: "It is true that the ecotax is not included in the government programme, but it is also true that we are willing to discuss it; the government will always engage in dialogue."

Police said 20,000 people had turned out for the demonstrations, but organisers put the figure closer to 50,000, Spain’s TVE public television said. Protesters also gathered in Madrid and Barcelona to show their support for the rallies in the Canary Islands, public television said.

Víctor Martín, a spokesperson for the collective Canarias se Agota – The Canaries Have Had Enough – which helped to coordinate protests on Saturday across the eight islands - said: “This rethinking of the tourism model could put the Canaries on the map as an example of sustainable tourism development."

He went on to say: "We could be known for something positive instead of something negative.”