International Courant
Protesters say mass tourism is overwhelming the Atlantic archipelago.
Tens of 1000’s of protesters have taken to the streets of Spain’s Canary Islands to demand modifications to the mass tourism mannequin they are saying is sweeping the Atlantic archipelago.
An estimated 57,000 folks took half within the protests, which began at midday (11:00 GMT) on Saturday, Spanish media stories mentioned, citing the central authorities’s consultant on the islands.
Flag-waving crowds crammed the streets of the primary cities on all seven islands of the archipelago, singing and whistling, and holding indicators with slogans resembling: “The Canary Islands are usually not on the market!”; “A moratorium on tourism”; and “Respect my home.”
“It isn’t a message towards the vacationer, however towards a tourism mannequin that doesn’t profit this nation and have to be modified,” one of many demonstrators instructed Reuters throughout the march in Tenerife’s capital, Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Smaller marches have been held elsewhere on the archipelago and in different Spanish cities, all organized by round 20 environmental organizations forward of the height summer season vacation season.
The protests have been known as by about two dozen social and environmental teams who say the overcrowding of vacationers perpetuates an financial mannequin that harms native residents and the atmosphere.
They need authorities to restrict the variety of guests and have proposed introducing an eco-tax to guard the atmosphere, a moratorium on tourism and a strict restriction on the sale of properties to non-residents.
“The authorities should instantly put an finish to this corrupt and harmful mannequin that’s depleting sources and making the financial system extra insecure. The Canary Islands have limits and so does the endurance of the folks,” Antonio Bullon, one of many protest leaders, instructed Reuters.
A girl shouts subsequent to a banner with the phrase ‘tourism’ throughout an indication within the Canary Islands (Borja Suarez/Reuters)
‘We won’t hold wanting away’
The archipelago of two.2 million folks was visited by virtually 14 million international vacationers in 2023, a 13 % enhance from the earlier 12 months, in line with official information.
The authorities on the islands are involved in regards to the penalties for the native inhabitants. A invoice anticipated to be handed this 12 months – one that may tighten guidelines on short-term leases – follows complaints from residents who’ve been priced out of the housing market.
Canary Islands President Fernando Clavijo mentioned on Friday he was “proud” that the area was a number one Spanish vacationer vacation spot, however acknowledged that extra controls are wanted because the sector continues to develop.
“We can’t proceed to look away. In any other case, resorts will proceed to open with none management,” he instructed a information convention.
Protests towards tourism have elevated in current months throughout Spain, the world’s second most visited nation. This has prompted authorities to attempt to reconcile the pursuits of locals with a profitable sector that represents 12.8 % of the Spanish financial system.
Positioned off the northwestern coast of Africa, the Canary Islands are identified for his or her volcanic landscapes and year-round sunshine and appeal to tens of millions of holiday makers yearly, with 4 in ten residents working in tourism – a sector that accounts for 36 % of the islands ‘ gross home product (GDP).
Earlier than the coronavirus pandemic introduced the worldwide journey business to its knees in 2020, protest actions towards overtourism have been already energetic in Spain, significantly in Barcelona.
After journey restrictions have been lifted, tourism boomed, with Spain welcoming a file 85.1 million guests final 12 months.
1000’s protest towards overtourism in Spain’s Canary Islands | Vacationer information
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