First of all, it should be said that tourismophobia in the Canary Islands was invented in Tenerife and was encouraged by officials in demonstrations on the islands on April 20, 2024, but in Gran Canaria this phenomenon is weaker except in the city of Las Palmas. In the south of Gran Canaria, tourism has a real impact on society, although there are, again, officials with apartments in tourist areas who want to reside as citizens, disrupting the order of the industry.
To the point: a shocking anti-tourism slogan has been seen graffitied on a wall in the south of Tenerife, amid a vehement protest movement against overcrowding. Tenerife and other Spanish tourist destinations have recently been the scene of several protests due to the large number of tourists and new residents seriously affecting the natural environment and the availability of housing.
One concerned resident, who wished to remain anonymous for security reasons, told LBC in the UK: "Things on the islands are getting worse because of the huge number of tourists and new residents, leaving us homeless and seriously affecting our natural environment. People are desperate for change and respect, but this may not justify these actions, which seem to be increasing. It's terrifying."
The graffiti images were posted online by a group called Islas de Resistencia, which describes itself as “a project to recover the memory of social movements in the Canary Islands.” Last summer, thousands of tourists took to the streets to protest the large number of people visiting the most popular spots. Activists are demanding the government make a change to prevent the number of tourists from visiting the popular holiday destination amid rising rents.
Carlos Tarife, deputy mayor of Santa Cruz, the capital of Tenerife, expressed concern last year, saying the island does not want tourists coming on all-inclusive packages. In an interview with a local outlet, Tarife said: "Where before there were hotels with 250 beds, today we are in hotels with fewer beds and of higher quality. I think that is the tourism we need in our country, not the wristband and 'all-inclusive' tourism of 'I stay inside the hotel and do everything inside the hotel'. That is why there are other destinations." This comes as Spain is also set to impose a 100% tax on non-EU citizens who buy homes in the country, in an attempt to prioritise the availability of housing for locals.
