Tenerife resident says 'immediately stop' as thousands protest over Canary Islands tourism

Thousands of Canary Islanders have hit the streets in a massive protest, demanding a cap on tourist numbers and declaring that their beloved islands are "not for sale".

Locals across the Spanish archipelago are up in arms over the surge in holiday rentals and hotel developments, which they argue is pushing up living costs and leaving residents priced out.

Tourism might be the lifeblood of the economy, contributing 35% to the region's GDP, but islanders are adamant that it's time for a rethink on how the sector operates.

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Demonstrations took place on Tenerife, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, and La Palma this Saturday, with protestors brandishing banners proclaiming "We don't want to see our island die", "Stop Hotels" and "Canaries not for sale".

In the capital of Tenerife, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, one demonstrator made it clear: "It's not a message against the tourist, but against a tourism model that doesn't benefit this land and needs to be changed."

Solidarity marches also occurred on the Spanish mainland, as two environmental groups orchestrated the protests to coincide with the onset of the high summer season.

The campaigners' goal is to persuade local officials to put a temporary hold on the number of visitors, easing the strain on natural resources, infrastructure, and the housing market, while also hoping to limit property acquisitions by non-residents.

Antonio Bullon, a demonstrator in Tenerife, voiced his concerns: "The authorities must immediately stop this corrupt and destructive model that depletes the resources and makes the economy more precarious. The Canary Islands have limits and people's patience too."

The seven main Canary Islands are home to 2.2 million residents and saw nearly 14 million international tourists in 2023, a 13% increase from the previous year.

Local authorities are growing increasingly worried about the impact of high tourist numbers on the local population, with a draft law set to tighten regulations on short-term rentals expected to be passed later this year.