Canary Islands residents protest tourist influx, demand housing solutions
Thousands in Canary Islands protested against over-tourism‚ citing housing issues and resource depletion. Government drafts law to regulate short-term rentals as tourist numbers surge‚ outpacing local population
In a show of discontent‚ thousands of Canary Islands residents took to the streets yesterday to voice their concerns about the impacts of mass tourism. The demonstrations‚ which took place across six islands including Gran Canaria‚ Tenerife‚ and Lanzarote‚ highlighted the growing tension between the tourism industry and local communities.
Protesters‚ rallying under the banner “Canary Islands has a limit‚“ expressed their frustration with the tourism model thats been in place for years. They argue that the influx of visitors is putting a strain on the islands limited resources and pricing locals out of the housing market. Sara Lopez‚ a 32-year-old participant‚ stated: “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“
The scale of tourism in the region is significant – from January to September this year‚ the Canary Islands welcomed 99 million visitors. This number dwarfs the local population which stood at 22 million last year. The disparity has led to calls for a more sustainable approach to tourism that benefits the islands inhabitants.
In response to these concerns the regional government has drafted legislation aimed at tightening regulations on short-term rentals. The proposed law‚ expected to pass later this year‚ includes:
- Banning newly built properties from the short-term rental market
- Giving neighbors the right to object to short-term rental permits
- Allowing a five-year grace period for property owners to comply with new requirements
This move comes as the number of private rentals has skyrocketed in recent years‚ contributing to housing affordability issues for locals.
The Canary Islands are not alone in grappling with over-tourism. Similar protests have occurred in other popular Spanish destinations like Barcelona‚ Mallorca‚ and Malaga. Just a day before the Canary Islands demonstrations‚ hundreds gathered in Valencia to demand more affordable housing‚ pointing to tourist accommodations as a factor driving up prices
As the debate continues‚ its clear that finding a balance between tourism and local needs will be crucial for the future of these popular destinations
