Canary Islanders march against tourism overload
Thousands of people took to the streets of Spanish cities on Sunday to protest the overwhelming number of tourists visiting the Canary Islands. Residents are sounding the alarm as the influx of travelers has led to increased housing prices and traffic congestion.
Reuters reports that the main slogan of the march was, "The Canary Islands have a limit." The protesters expressed their concerns not only in the Canary Islands but also across mainland Spain, including Madrid.
Juan Francisco Galindo, a hotel manager in Tenerife, said to Reuters that tourism is very important for the Canary Islands, but people must realize that the collapse is total.
His father owns a small property on the island, for which the local administration issued an expropriation order in 2023 due to the approval of a luxury hotel complex project.
Galindo continued that the 70 square metres they want to expropriate is everything his father has. His health has deteriorated since this happened.
Millions of tourists
According to official statistics, the Canary Islands, home to 2.2 million people, attract a million tourists every day. Hoteliers emphasize that over the last 50-60 years, the number of hotel beds has tripled, and investments have been made in infrastructure. Meanwhile, housing prices have risen, and issues have emerged regarding access to medical care during the tourist peak.
Similar protests have been organized in the past in Majorca.
