Latest message from Tenerife leaders to Irish tourists after thousands of locals stage ‘limits’ protests amid new €3 tax measure

THOUSANDS of residents of the Canary Islands have taken to the streets this week to protest against demands for “tourists to go home”.

Locals on the sun-drenched Spanish islands of Tenerife, Lanzarote and Gran Canaria claim tourism is destroying their economy.

The islands, located off the coast of northwest Africa, are a popular holiday destination for Irish and British sun seekers.

But many are wondering whether they should cancel their travel plans after Tenerife locals turned out in their thousands for the anti-tourism protest last weekend.

The chaos started earlier this month when Canary Islands regional president Fernando Clavijo said he was concerned about graffiti on the island, including “Tourists go home.”

It was then reported that activists would take to the streets on April 20 with the slogan ‘The Canary Islands have a limit’.

Residents protested against tourism on the island and want to stop the construction of two new hotels.

They also demand that locals be given more freedom when it comes to the island’s development and natural landscape.

There has been an increase in the cost of housing in major Spanish cities, similar to the increase across Europe.

Many locals claim the influx of tourism as Covid has been the reason for this in addition to the development of hotels.

Locals say they now face longer distances due to the lack of housing in popular areas.

What happened?

Protesters filled a square in the capital on Saturday, waving banners, including some that read “You Enjoy We Lijden” in English.

More than 15,000 people waved Canary Islands flags and blew horns to make a deafening noise in the capital Santa Cruz.

At the same time, protests also took place on other popular Canary Islands, including Lanzarote and Gran Canaria.

Activists leading the protest tried to distance themselves from the anti-tourist graffiti.

The Tenerife Association of Friends of Nature claimed not to be against tourism, but instead the protest wanted to draw attention to ‘the continued degradation of the environment, the saturation of public spaces due to overcrowding, the increase in traffic jams and the difficulties in accessing housing. .”

What consequences will holidaymakers experience?

Although no official action has been taken by government authorities in response to the protest, there is talk of a tourist tax.

The president of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, has suggested that the government is considering a €3 per night surcharge for tourists.

This would mean Irish holidaymakers would have to pay an extra €3 for every night they stay on the island – a common concept that has been implemented in other popular holiday destinations around the world.

He said that while “ecotax is not included in the government program,” it is “true” that it is something they are “willing to discuss.”

Who said what?

The organizers behind the protest Tenerife Association of Friends of Nature have shared their reasons behind the case and urged officials to find a solution.

They said: “Voices will be heard speaking out against the destruction of natural areas, as well as others calling for an end to overpopulation, complaining about the illegal construction of housing on non-urban land and the excessive occupation of the area, or warn against the abuse of holiday rentals and the mass sale of land and properties for speculative use.

“These are all challenges that have been affecting the islands for years and for which our leaders have shown no intention of finding a solution
solution.”

Canary Island president Fernando Clavijo admitted they are “concerned” by the growing anti-tourism movement and urged holidaymakers to keep coming.

He said: “We are concerned because tourism is our main source of income and I think that anyone who comes here to enjoy, spend a few days and leave their money in the Canary Islands should not be reprimanded or may be offended.”

Lope Afonso, vice-president of Tenerife’s island council, has denounced the planned protests, saying he regrets that the “unfair” attacks were aimed at tourists.

Jaime Coello, president of the Telesforo Bravo Foundation, said: “The quality of the tourism product is being destroyed by the investors and the regional government.”

The Spanish press also called on authorities to take new measures to curb tourism and said visitors were still welcome.

Is it still safe to go?

The Canary Tourist Board told the Irish Sun that they are urging holidaymakers not to cancel their plans to visit and are encouraging people to still consider the Canary Islands as a holiday destination.

They said: “As far as tourists are concerned, the situation they see on the eight islands is completely normal.

‘We are aware that an isolated and specific event has occurred, but at no time has this changed the enjoyment of the holiday of those who visit us.

“We must not forget that the organizers of the 20th demonstrations themselves explained that they are not positioning themselves against tourists arriving on the islands, but defending a change in the tourism model that the Canary Islands Government has been implementing for three years. years now.

“The Canarian people have made the Canary Islands tourist destination one of the best in the world thanks to the unique and complete value concept that we have built over the last ten years, especially after the pandemic.”