Approximately 30,000 people demonstrated across the Canary Islands under the slogan “The Canary Islands have a limit,” advocating for a change in the tourism model, which they see as having negative impacts on local residents and the environment.
In 2023, over 16 million tourists visited the islands, contributing more than 20 billion euros to the economy, but this surge has led to increased property prices that locals struggle to afford and low-paying jobs in the tourism sector.
Protesters highlighted that the overcrowding caused by a 5% growth in tourism is detrimental to the islands’ sensitive biodiversity, and they called for a shift towards attracting fewer, wealthier tourists to mitigate these issues.
Despite previous protests and demands for legislative changes, including a tourist tax similar to that in the Balearic Islands, no substantial actions have been taken by the islands’ parliament, leaving residents frustrated with the status quo.