Thousands of Tenerife residents protested in the streets last weekend, calling for a change in the Canary Islands’ tourism model.
Following in the footsteps of Barcelona, some residents in the Canaries have protested against the impacts of mass tourism.
CANARY ISLANDS TOURISM
It’s estimated that close to 10 million people visited the islands between January and September this year.
Protesters claim visitors strain the islands’ natural resources and also push up the cost of living.
HOUSING PRICES
Many of the visitors stay in short-term accommodation rentals on the various islands.
This translates to higher prices for accommodation on the islands, outpricing accommodation for locals.
This problem is not unique to these islands.
Many other destinations in Europe (and indeed all over the globe) are dealing with the same problem.
ALSO READ: Lisbon experiences growing tourism problem
QUALITY OF LIFE
Furthermore, some of the tourists engage in disrespectful activities while visiting the islands.
The Guardian states that some tourists come there specifically for events like wild orgies and swinging.
The presence of such visitors displeases and offends many of the island archipelago’s local residents. Â Â
While tourism contributes hugely to the local economy, it thus impacts the quality of life for residents in the Canary Islands.
CANARY ISLANDS
The Canary Islands also known informally as the Canaries, are a Spanish autonomous community in the Atlantic Ocean.
At their closest point to the African mainland, the islands are 100 kilometers (62 miles) west of Morocco and the Western Sahara.
The archipelago is the southernmost tip of the autonomous communities of Spain. The islands have a population of 2.2 million people.
The seven main islands are, from largest to smallest in area, Tenerife, Fuerteventura , Gran Canaria , Lanzarote , La Palma , La Gomera , and El Hierro .Â
