Holiday-makers in Tenerife were taken by surprise as hundreds of anti-tourist protesters stormed Troya Beach, chanting slogans like “more tourists, more misery” and “the Canary Islands are not for sale.”
The protesters, armed with placards and accompanied by drums and whistles, were showing their frustration with the growing influx of tourists, which they argue is negatively impacting their communities.
Some beach-goers chose to leave after being surrounded by locals holding signs like “Go Home Tourist” and “The Canaries have a limit. More trees, less hotels.”
The protest in Tenerife is part of a larger movement across Spain’s Canary Islands, where locals claim they are being priced out of their neighbuorhoods due to expats and remote workers.
Demonstrations have also taken place in Gran Canaria, La Palma, and other islands. Protesters argue that the 17 million tourists expected this year are unsustainable for the region.
Spain has begun addressing these concerns by cracking down on short-term holiday rentals and investigating platforms like Airbnb to limit the “touristification” of local communities.
Hoy fue increíble y triste a la vez. Hay mucha rabia pero fue tan bonito ver como nos juntamos para nuestras islas y gente. #CanariasTieneUnLímite #CanariasNoSeVende #tenerife pic.twitter.com/yR0IRPTTlZ
— Monte (@baellenaboo) October 20, 2024
