Thousands of protesters marched through the streets of Spain’s Canary Islands on Saturday, April 20th, 2024
They were protesting against the way mass tourism is affecting the islands. Around 57,000 people participated in the protests, which happened on all seven islands.
“The Canary Islands are not for sale”
In the main towns, large crowds waved flags, chanted, and whistled.
They carried signs with messages such as “The Canary Islands are not up for sale!”, “A moratorium on tourism,” and “Respect my home.”
One protester explained that they are not against tourists, but they are against a tourism system that does not help their land and needs to be fixed.
Environmental groups spearhead movement
About 20 social and environmental groups got together to organize these protests.
They argued that too many tourists hurt the locals and the environment.
Antonio Bullon, one of the protest leaders, said that the government needs to put an end to this harmful system that damages resources and makes the economy less stable.
Calls for visitor limits and eco-taxes
The groups were asking the authorities to control how many people visit the islands.
They suggested ideas like adding an eco-tax to help the environment, stopping tourism for a while (a moratorium), and making it harder for non-residents to buy property.
The Canary Islands can only handle so much, and the locals are getting fed up, Bullon explained.
A tourism hotspot under pressure
The Canary Islands, famous for their volcanoes and sunny weather all year, had almost 14 million foreign visitors in 2023, which was 13% more than the year before.
Forty percent of the residents work in tourism, which makes up 36% of the islands’ economy.
However, some protesters said that this much tourism is unsustainable because the islands do not have enough resources for it to keep going.
A nationwide movement against overtourism
After travel restrictions eased post-pandemic, Spain, the second-most visited country globally, has seen a surge in anti-tourism protests
These movements are happening in places like Barcelona, the Balearic Islands, Malaga, and Catalonia.
Residents are upset about housing shortages, too much noise, pollution harming the environment, and resources being stretched thin because of too many tourists.
Authorities seek balance between tourism and sustainability
The Spanish government recognized that they need to put more rules in place as tourism keeps growing.
However, they also want to balance what locals need with the lucrative tourism industry, which is about 12.8% of Spain’s economy.
Some cities are already taking steps to deal with overcrowding, like restricting group tousizes and not allowing loudspeakers during tours.
A shifting landscape
The increase in anti-tourism protests in Spain brings new considerations for travelers from the European Union (EU).
As Spain tries to handle overtourism, there might be rules to limit how many people can visit. This could mean limits on where visitors can stay or which places they can go to.
Additionally, the ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System) is starting in mid-2025. This pre-travel screening for Schengen visa-exempt travelers aims to boost security within the EU.
However, if Spain makes new rules because of overtourism, there might be changes in how the country admits travelers.
A policy pivot
Beyond short-term visitors, the protests highlight broader sustainability challenges. This could influence Spain’s approach to long-term residency options like investment visas, digital nomad permits, or student visas.
The government may prioritize policies aligning economic interests with environmental protection and community well-being.
As Spain navigates solutions, its immigration policies could evolve. This may involve tighter regulations on property ownership by non-residents or revised criteria for residency permits.
Balancing tourism revenue with resource preservation and local housing needs will be crucial considerations.
Spain’s quest for sustainable tourism
As Spain grapples with the consequences of overtourism, the anti-tourism protests highlight the urgent need for a sustainable tourism model.
Balancing economic benefits with environmental protection and the well-being of local communities is a challenge that Spanish authorities must address to ensure the long-term viability of the tourism industry.