The Canary Islands are set to see further anti-tourism protests , with a local collective urging tourists to take “immediate action” to address the social and environmental issues associated with travel
British tourists are set for trouble as anti-tourism protests threaten to disrupt the October half-term holidays in the Canary Islands. Activists have called for action on October 20 – a date coinciding with World Tourism Day – at “key tourist areas” sparking worries among holidaymakers looking forward to a break.
Hotspots targeted for demonstrations, according to local outlet Canarian Weekly, include the Metropolis Commercial Centre in Playa Las Americas, Tenerife; the popular destination of Maspalomas in Gran Canaria; and Corralejo in Fuerteventura. These tourist “hubs” are being focused on to highlight social issues linked to tourism like poor labour conditions, environmental harm, and rampant construction.
Ana from the Abeque collective emphasised to Canarian Weekly the importance for tourists to recognise the effect they have on the islands. This wave of discontent comes after similar flare-ups of protest in Spanish holiday regions, with the Canary Islands seeing its first rally this year on April 20, before the Balearic Islands joined over the summer.
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Despite these demonstrations, Jaime Coello Bravo, director of the Canarian Foundation Telesforo Bravo, has told Canarian Weekly that the regional government hasn’t met with protestors since April 20, merely referring to concepts like ‘reinterpretation’ and ‘sustainable tourism’ without making concrete changes. .
The statement continued: “Coello believes the situation demands immediate action to address the environmental and social challenges posed by the current model,” reports the Manchester Evening News.
Demonstrations are scheduled to take place at the same time as the government is expected to announce the findings of five working groups established to investigate alternative economic models. Protest groups claim that the existing model “prioritises mass tourism at the expense of the environment and the quality of life for residents”.
Canarian Weekly further stated: “As the October 20 rally approaches, it is clear that the debate over the Canary Islands’ economic future is far from settled. Protesters vow to keep taking to the streets until their voices are heard, pushing for a more sustainable and socially just model for the region.”
