Activists in Tenerife organize a protest to address the adverse effects of tourism on the local infrastructure and environment, highlighting the need for sustainable practices as tensions rise among the community.
On April 20, a protest organized by the Tenerife Association of Friends of Nature (ATAN) is scheduled to occur in the Canary Islands amidst concerns over the sustainability of tourism in the region. The demonstration titled “Canary Islands have a limit” aims to highlight issues caused by the heavy influx of tourists, which ATAN claims is straining local infrastructure and depleting natural resources. The group is calling for regulated holiday rentals, traffic congestion solutions, and a limit on tourist numbers to promote responsible and sustainable tourism practices.
In related events, six hunger strikers, demanding a revision of the tourism model, experienced severe health declines, prompting emergency medical responses in Tenerife. Starting their hunger strike last Thursday, these activists have shown symptoms such as dangerously low blood sugar levels, with warnings from medical professionals of possible severe health repercussions should their protest continue.
In another incident in Tenerife, a British tourist in his forties encountered severe injuries after misjudging a jump into the sea at Charco El Tancon, a known hazardous spot despite being banned for bathing. The tourist, who suffered significant lower limb damage, was rescued by friends and taken to hospital.
Additionally, the economic disparities driven by tourism are exemplified in El Pajar, Gran Canaria, where locals live in substandard conditions near luxurious tourist accommodations, describing their living environment as being like “rats”. These contrasts have fueled local discontent and calls for better regulation of the tourism industry, which is seen as prioritizing profits over the welfare of the local population.
Together, these incidents underscore growing tensions over tourism’s impact on the Canary Islands, with locals and activists pushing for urgent changes to protect both their community and the environment.
