The Daily Telegraph - Saturday
Please come to Canaries, urges minister amid tourism protests
British visitors still very welcome, official insists as residents across the islands demand fewer arrivals
THE Canary Islands tourism minister has urged British holidaymakers to not cancel their holidays, as locals prepare to hold anti-tourism protests today across the entire archipelago.
Tensions have soared in recent weeks over water usage, a lack of housing and pollution that residents say is the result of overtourism. Graffiti has appeared telling visitors to “go home”.
Jessica de León, who became regional tourism chief last year, told
that the archipelago was still very much open for business.
“It is still safe to visit the Canary Islands, and we are delighted to welcome you,” said Ms de León.
She said she understood protesters’ frustrations, particularly concerning the issue of housing, but that it was “unfair to blame tourism”.
Fernando Clavijo, the Canary Islands president, also weighed in, saying that some of the opinions being expressed by activists “smack of tourist-phobia”.
“People who come here to visit and spend their money must not be criticised or insulted. We are playing with our main source of income,” Mr Clavijo said.
Helen, a Scottish regular visitor to
Tenerife, said she had always felt welcome on the island, but could understand how frustration was building among locals who typically work in the tourism sector for €1,200 a month.
“The government should address these concerns and not dismiss them as just a few cranks. Otherwise, the situation probably will escalate,” she said.
The Spanish archipelago off the coast of north-west Africa has been drawing British and European tourists in droves for decades, and the sector accounts for 40 per cent of the local economy.
While there have long been grumblings over the high number of visitors, today is the first time there will be a cross-island coordinated protest movement to call for fewer arrivals.
“We have the feeling that we are not living off tourism; it is tourism that is living off us,” said Gabriel González, a councillor for the hard-Left Podemos party in Tenerife’s resort town of Adeje.
In the past week there have been protests in La Laguna, Tenerife, and six members of the “Canarias se agota” group (“The Canaries are wearing out”) have gone on hunger strike.
Testy exchanges have also been reported by foreigners and hospitality staff. “We pay your wages,” one foreign tourist reportedly wrote on a restaurant bill after receiving curt service.
Tourism industry leaders have expressed concern. “Tourists are worried,” said Carlos Magdalena, a Tenerife restaurant owner. “We are being fools – they’ll be rejoicing elsewhere.”
However, Mr Gonzalez said “savage development” had led to the environmental issues and depleted funds for public services and social housing.
“The Canaries are wearing out” group is demanding a moratorium on hotel building, an ecotax on overnight stays, restrictions on purchases of homes by foreigners and a freeze on the number of tourism arrivals.
Néstor Marrero, of Atan, a Tenerife ecology group, said tourists were using too much water, which is overwhelming local infrastructure.