Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets of Spain’s Canary Islands on Saturday to demand changes to the mass tourism model they say is overwhelming the Atlantic archipelago.
Rallying under the slogan “The Canary Islands have a limit”, protesters began gathering at midday (1100 GMT), with flag-waving crowds filling the streets of the main cities and on the archipelago’s seven islands.
Chanting and whistling, they mingled with dozens of placards and banners with slogans that read: “The Canary Islands are not for sale!” or “Tourism Moratorium” while others simply said: “Respect my home”.
Organizers say mass tourism perpetuates an economic model that hurts local residents and are demanding authorities limit the numbers.
Police said 20,000 protesters took part in the protests, but organizers put the number closer to 50,000, Spanish public television reported.
Oil and Gas Drilling Blocked in Alaska’s Wilderness as Biden Seeks Green Loyalty
“We are not against tourism,” a female protester named Rosario Correo told Spain’s public broadcaster TVE.
“We ask that they change this model that allows the unlimited development of tourism.”
They are calling for a halt to work on two new hotels in Tenerife, the largest and most developed of the archipelago’s seven islands.
And they also want residents to be given a greater say in what they see as uncontrolled development that damages the environment.
“The government and regional leaders of the islands must stop this corrupt model of endless development based on the destruction of the environment and which only weakens the economy,” said another protester named Alfonso Boullon.
Protesters also gathered in Madrid and Barcelona to show their support for the rallies in the Canary Islands, public television reported.
Behind the growth, Ivory Coast’s debt is fueling the debate
Protests against tourism have multiplied in recent months across Spain, the world’s second most visited country, prompting authorities to try to reconcile the interests of locals and a lucrative sector that accounts for 12.8% of the Spanish economy. .
The islands, located off the northwest coast of Africa, are known for their volcanic landscapes and year-round sunshine that attract millions of visitors each year.
About four in 10 residents work in tourism, which accounts for 36% of the islands’ GDP, official figures show.
Last week, several members of the “Canaries Sold Out” collective also started an “indefinite” hunger strike to put pressure on the authorities.
Last year, about 16 million people visited the Canary Islands, more than seven times the population of about 2.2 million, which the collective says is unsustainable for the archipelago’s limited resources.
Before the pandemic brought the global travel industry to its knees in 2020, protest movements against hypertourism were already active in Spain, notably in Barcelona.
“Go home”: Hypertourism sparks reactions in Spain
After these travel restrictions were lifted, tourism increased with Spain welcoming 85.1 million visitors last year.
Source: AFP