Around 30,000 people gathered across cities and towns in the Canary Islands on Sunday, united under the slogan “The Canary Islands have a limit.” This protest highlighted the growing concerns about over-tourism in the archipelago. While tourism plays a significant role in driving the local economy, it has also led to several pressing issues, including making property prices unaffordable for locals and damaging the environment.
In 2023, the Canary Islands welcomed over 16 million tourists, with the number expected to rise in 2024. While tourists spent over 20 billion euros in the region last year, many locals argue that the benefits come at a significant cost. Protesters acknowledge the importance of tourism for jobs, but they emphasize that most of the available work is low-skilled and poorly paid, which does little to improve the livelihoods of residents.
A major issue is the impact on housing. Many properties are owned by second homeowners who live elsewhere, making it incredibly difficult for locals to purchase a home. Renting affordable apartments has also become increasingly challenging, further exacerbating the housing crisis for residents.
Tourism in the Canary Islands has grown by five percent over the last year, which many protesters feel is unsustainable. The islands are becoming overcrowded, and some suggest that the solution lies in targeting fewer tourists but those who are wealthier, similar to strategies employed by other countries dealing with mass tourism.
Environmental concerns are also at the forefront of the protests. One of the groups involved in organizing the demonstrations, Ecologists in Action, pointed out the harm that mass tourism is inflicting on the Canary Islands’ unique biodiversity. The islands, known for their volcanic origins, boast protected areas, endemic species, and delicate ecosystems, all of which are increasingly under threat due to the rising number of visitors.
In April, a large protest raised similar concerns, with hopes that the regional government would respond by introducing new legislation, including the potential implementation of a tourist tax. This tax has already been adopted by Spain’s Balearic Islands, which face similar challenges with over-tourism. Despite the April protests, however, protesters argue that little has changed. No substantial legislative reforms have been introduced, and no tourist tax has been imposed to manage the influx of visitors.
In Maspalomas, a city on Gran Canaria, protester Eugenio Reyes expressed frustration with the lack of action from authorities. Speaking to local media, he lamented that “everything remains the same.” According to Reyes, there has been no meaningful engagement between the government and civil society. He noted that there has been no effort to create an observatory or any formal space for citizens to voice their concerns and present concrete proposals to address the problems caused by over-tourism.Despite the protests and widespread frustration, there has been little progress in addressing the critical issues raised by residents of the Canary Islands. Many locals feel that their concerns about over-tourism, housing, and environmental damage have been largely ignored by the regional government. The lack of dialogue between officials and citizens has only deepened the sense of disillusionment among those affected by the rapid growth of tourism.
The protest in April, which had raised hopes of significant legislative change, focused on the need for urgent action. The introduction of a tourist tax was one of the key demands, as it is seen as a potential tool to regulate the number of visitors and generate revenue to mitigate the negative impacts of tourism. The Balearic Islands, another popular Spanish destination struggling with similar challenges, have already implemented such a tax with some success. However, in the Canary Islands, no such measure has been adopted, leaving many feeling that the government is failing to protect the region’s interests.
In addition to economic concerns, the environmental toll of mass tourism is a major issue. The Canary Islands are home to several species that exist nowhere else in the world, along with fragile ecosystems that have developed over centuries. These ecosystems are under threat from the continuous influx of tourists, many of whom are unaware of the environmental sensitivity of the areas they are visiting. Organizations like Ecologists in Action are advocating for stricter regulations and conservation efforts to preserve the unique biodiversity of the islands. However, without meaningful policy changes, the damage may be irreversible.
Locals have expressed that tourism, while vital to the economy, should not come at the cost of their quality of life or the destruction of the environment. There is a growing sentiment that the Canary Islands have reached their limit in terms of how many tourists they can accommodate sustainably. The push for new regulations is centered around achieving a balance between maintaining the economic benefits of tourism and safeguarding the islands’ natural and social fabric.
Protesters believe that the solution lies in shifting the focus from sheer numbers to the quality of tourism. Attracting fewer but wealthier tourists, as seen in other tourist-heavy destinations, could provide the economic benefits the islands need while reducing strain on infrastructure, housing, and the environment. This approach would allow for better management of resources and help preserve the islands for both residents and future visitors.
The failure to implement significant changes following the April protests has heightened tensions between residents and government officials. Many believe that the government’s inaction is driven by a desire to maintain the flow of revenue generated by tourism, despite the growing discontent among locals. This disconnect has led to calls for more direct involvement of civil society in decision-making processes, particularly when it comes to managing the tourism industry.
As the situation continues to evolve, there is hope that ongoing protests and public pressure will eventually lead to meaningful reforms. For now, the residents of the Canary Islands are standing firm in their demand for a sustainable tourism model that prioritizes both their well-being and the protection of the environment. The message from the latest protests is clear: the islands cannot continue to bear the burden of unchecked tourism growth, and it’s time for the government to act.
