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'We left UK for Canaries Brits are still welcome and islands will die without tourists'

The Canary Islands are one of the most popular destination for Brits. But recently, thousands of locals have taken to the streets to protest against the archipelago's tourism model

[People sunbathing on Playa Blanca in Puerto Del Carmen, Lanzarote]

Many Brits travel to the Canary Islands (Image: Getty Images)

Every year, thousands of Brits flock to the Canary Islands for a dose of sun, sea and sand.

The beaches of Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura are packed with tourists all year round, soaking up the warm weather and stunning natural beauty.

But not everyone is thrilled about this. Recently, thousands of locals have been protesting against the current tourism model in the archipelago.

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Many have argued they're being priced out due to "unsustainable" levels of tourism which are driving up living costs and damaging the environment.

[Thousands of people demonstrate against tourism policies on the island of Tenerife]

Thousands demonstrate against tourism policies on the island of Tenerife(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)

The protests are primarily aimed at curbing the rise in short-term holiday rentals and hotel developments, which locals say are pushing up housing prices.

Placards reading: "We don't want to see our island die", "Stop Hotels" and "Canaries not for sale" were seen during protests last weekend, reports Manchester Evening News.

These demonstrations have sparked worries among those planning a trip to the Canaries this summer. Now locals insists the protests are not "anti-tourist".

Expats living in the Canary Islands are feeling "frustrated" over how UK media is portraying their protests, worried it might deter Brits from their sunny holidays.

John Parkes, who runs The Vault Bar in Tenerife's Los Cristianos, spoke out about the housing crisis. Born near Oldham but a Canarian resident, John's watched one-bed flats double in price.

"All the long-term accommodation got taken off the market and replaced with tourist apartments," he said.

"No one can afford to live where they work anymore so everyone gets pushed out of town. The wages have not risen in accordance with that."

[Thousands of people demonstrate against tourism policies on the island of Tenerife, Canary Islands]

Tourism policy in the Canary Islands left little room for the local population(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)

He's calling for a rethink on tourism strategy, questioning why every pad should go to holidaymakers at the cost of local digs.

With staff unable to find places to live, John highlights the knock-on effect on businesses like his, struggling to hire help amidst the accommodation chaos.

"If they don't drive then they can't go home if they finish late at night," he added. "We have other staff who come over from mainland Spain and they just can't get anywhere to live so they give up and go back."

He expressed his understanding towards the protesters' demands for "reform in the tourist model" but feels the message behind the protests has been "misconstrued".

"I'm not a 'tourists go home' merchant but some of the concerns are justified," he admitted. "That doesn't mean that people here are holding up banners at the airport telling them to go home.

"As far as I'm concerned, everyone is welcome here. It's not an anti-British thing. The message is about the tourist model, not a specific set of people.

"There's no cause for alarm for anybody coming out here. I work with tourists every day and haven't heard of any trouble. I'm frustrated at how they are being perceived.

"You've got to have affordable housing so there can be a harmony between residents and tourists and so businesses can have places for their staff to live."

[Thousands of people demonstrate to demand a tourism model respectful for the islands environment and their residents]

The sign reads 'No dumping, natural treatment'(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

The Canary Islands, home to 2.2million people and a favourite destination for Brits, saw a whopping 14m international tourists in 2023, marking a 13% increase from the previous year.

Despite this tourism boom, which contributes over 25% of the Canary Islands' GDP (17.4 billion), poverty remains a significant issue.

Shockingly, 33.8% of the population is at risk of poverty or social exclusion, the highest proportion for any region except Andalusia, according to Spain's National Statistics Institute.

In Tenerife, locals are being forced to live in camper vans due to skyrocketing housing costs. Protests erupted across Tenerife, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and La Palma last Saturday.

Suzanne Goodwin, 53, who moved to Lanzarote last year, said locals were upset about a lack of investment in infrastructure.

The island frequently experiences water supply issues, particularly in rural areas during peak tourism season.

"People are not complaining about tourists," said Suzanne. "They are complaining about all the hotels and no infrastructure being built.

"It's their main source of income but if we carry on growing and growing, what are we going to do about water and electricity supply?

"People want to come here because you're more or less guaranteed the weather, but they are not thinking about underlying issues of what it can cause."

However, she too was concerned about how the protesters' message was being perceived back in the UK.

"I'm not sure they are going about it the right way," added Suzanne. "The way it's coming across in the news is that it's against the tourists.

"They are not against the people, it's aimed at the government. Tourists are welcome here.

"Everyone is friendly. When we go out, we always go to the Spanish places and we've never had an issue. I've never had any hostility. Without the tourists, it wouldn't survive."

Jimmy Largey, from Blackley, has owned a holiday let on Tenerife for the last 20 years and supports the protesters. He said the lack of housing was also impacting British expats.

He explained: "The problem is not the English holidaymakers or any other for that matter. The problem is the greedy apartment and villa owners.

"The owners are giving notice to the workers and turning their apartments and villas into holiday lets for one purpose - more money."

Jimmy said he regularly has the same families staying at his holiday let "year after year", but accused other owners of having "ratcheted" their prices.

"I've not jumped on the gravy train," he said. "I was one of the originals. I agree with the protest for more housing and less hotels.

"The greedy owners wanted the workers in their apartments over lockdown, knowing they couldn't get the holidaymakers then. Now it's thank you, go find somewhere else to live.

"It's a shortage of workers here as it is. Now bars, restaurants and hotels are crying out for staff but the staff can't find affordable accommodation so they are leaving the island."

[Chris Elkington, editor of Canarian Weekly]

Chris Elkington is the editor of Canarian Weekly(Image: Canarian Weekly)

Chris Elkington has lived in Tenerife since 1991 after relocating from Stockport. He now edits Canarian Weekly, an English-language newspaper based on the islands.

In recent weeks, Chris said he had received "a high number of emails and messages asking if it is safe to come to Tenerife" from concerned Brits.

In an open letter on the publication's Facebook page, he accused the UK media of "sensationalising" its coverage of the protests.

He wrote: "Yes, today there are demonstrations about tourism and the fact that it is causing problems for locals... BUT, no one has said we don't want British tourists do you think we are that short-sighted and frankly, stupid?

"What the people in the Canary Islands, as it's not just Tenerife, it's all of the islands, want, is for it to be fairer.

"They want somewhere to live. They're happy to pay but the government is allowing too many holiday homes so they're forced out. There are people living in tents, vans, and cars on the street. Is that fair?

"They want a stop to all the new hotels being built because it's ruining the island, and where will the workers for these new hotels live? Is that fair?

"The Canary Islands have some of the highest tourism figures, but the 3rd lowest average wage in Spain. Is that fair?

"Please understand, this is not about you, ie British, or any other nationality of tourist, but about the current tourism model... There is a huge difference. We cannot be a theme park."

Anthony Caitucoli, who runs the American Indian Cafe in Puerto del Carmen, Lanzarote, says tourism is the economic engine of the Canary Islands but agrees the islands do face some challenges.

"There's a shortage of homes for workers and those available are expensive to rent," he said. "There are also issues such as sewage from hotels and apartments being pumped into the sea."

"These issues need a solution but that solution is not banning tourists or making it harder for them to visit the Canary Islands. We need more investment from the government in infrastructure and housing and perhaps setting a daily limit of visitors at our main tourist attractions and natural parks."

The Canary Tourist Board has also asked holidaymakers to still come to the islands. It said: "In terms of tourists, the situation they see on the eight islands is absolutely normal.

"We are aware that there has been some isolated and specific events, but this has not altered at any time the enjoyment of the holidays of those who visit us."

Meanwhile, Rosa Davila, the first female president of Tenerife, warned "there have to be limits to prevent tourism from overflowing".

Rosa suggested a new tourism model that would require visitors to pay a fee to access natural spaces and also advocates for measures to "modulate" the number of tourists arriving in Tenerife and to "study the impact of demographic growth".

Following the uproar, she stated: "We must analyse the exceptionalities that can be applied in a territory as fragile and limited as ours. What is clear is that Tenerife cannot be a theme park.

"Those who visit us have to value and respect our natural and cultural wealth, our resources, and they have to be clear about the rules for their preservation."

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