Thousands of Canarians took to the streets this Sunday, raising their voices against the turismo of masses, which, according to them, negatively impacts the archipelago.
Under the motto “The Canary Islands have a limit“, the protesters gathered at key tourist spots on the seven islands, such as Maspalomas, Fuerteventura y Playa de las Américas in Tenerife.
The protests are framed in a context of growing discontent with a tourism model that, according to organizersbenefits foreign investors while deteriorating the local quality of life.
Eugenio Reyes Naranjospokesperson for Ben Magec-Ecologists in Action, He stated that the sector “brings poverty, unemployment and misery,” and made an urgent call to regulate the number of visitors and limit tourist accommodation.
In 2023, the islands received a record 16.2 million tourists, vastly outnumbering its population of 2.2 million. This influx led to increased unsustainability in local resources, with 65% of residents struggling to make ends meet. “The wealth generated here goes to foreign companies,” he lamented. Adrian Souza, a 32-year-old protester.
Tourism, which represents 36% of the GDP of the Canary Islandshas been the subject of intense criticism, leading cities like Barcelona to ban new tourist apartments. The authorities seek to balance economic growth and the needs of the local population, at a time when pressure on the environment and communities is increasingly evident.