Thousands of residents in Spain’s Canary Islands took to the streets on Sunday to protest against over-tourism, claiming it has driven up housing costs and made it difficult for locals to afford homes. The protests took place across several popular holiday spots, including Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Palma, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, and El Hierro. The protesters rallied under the slogan "Canary Islands has a limit," calling for a shift in the islands' tourism model.

 

How is over-tourism affecting the Canary islands?

 

In the Playa de las Americas on Tenerife, demonstrators made their voices heard by chanting “This beach is ours” as tourists sunbathed nearby. Activists on the islands target mass tourism as responsible for excessive water use, destruction of natural resources, and unbalanced pressure on natural resources. The Spanish government estimated that at least 8,000 people participated in protests that took place on Sunday.

The Canaries, who welcomed 9.9 million tourists from January until September, have seen a 10.3% increase in visitors compared to the same period last year. The total population of the islands stands at about 2.2 million, meaning that higher numbers are posing more difficulties for locals in finding affordable housing.

What are residents demanding?

"We need a change in the tourist model so it leaves richness here, a change so it values what this land has because it is beautiful," said Sara Lopez, a 32-year-old protester in Gran Canaria. 

The protests are part of a bigger wave of resistance against over-tourism in Spain. Demonstrations have already taken place this year in other cities, including Barcelona, Mallorca, and Malaga.

 

Government response to the housing crisis

 

The Canary Islands regional government has published draft legislation aimed at tugging at its short-term rental rules. A new law set to pass later this year will prevent fresh properties from being sold as short lets and require existing landlords to hold onto a new set of regulations. This includes giving neighbours the right to object to short-let permits. The crackdown comes after a boom in private tourist rentals that locals claim have worsened the housing crisis.

Hundreds of protesters in Valencia also called for more affordable housing and blamed tourist rentals for pushing up prices on Saturday. The growing frustration reflects a national trend as Spain tries to balance its booming tourism industry with the needs of local residents.