Hikers in Tenerife are being asked to pay up by local authorities - Financial Demand from Hikers: Tenerife Seeks Monetary Contributions from Trekkers in Canary Islands
Canary Islands Residents Voice Concerns Over Mass Tourism, Implement Visitor Fees
Residents of the Canary Islands are grappling with the escalating effects of mass tourism, resulting in protests, rental issues, and calls for sustainable solutions. Thousands participated in demonstrations in Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, and Fuerteventura, expressing frustration over the detrimental impact of tourism on their environment and living conditions.
The movement behind the protests is "The Canary Islands Have a Limit," which advocates for policies addressing rental affordability concerns. This includes the implementation of rent control measures and a construction halt for tourist facilities, aiming to alleviate the housing shortage exacerbated by overtourism. Local associations have criticized the current tourism model, arguing it prioritizes investors over the environment and local residents, particularly those affected by escalating housing costs.
Tenerife authorities are taking steps to address the problems brought on by the tourist influx. They have implemented visitor caps in popular areas such as the hiking destination of Anaga and tour buses. Additionally, an eco-tax will be introduced to protect the natural park around Spain's highest mountain, Teide, which already restricts daily entrants to 300 with permits. The eco-tax's amount remains uncertain, but it aims to combat littering in the park. Private vehicles will also be allowed only up to a certain point, with electric shuttle buses transporting visitors to the summit in 2026. The Teide cable car, the world's first to operate solely on solar energy, will continue to serve visitors.
With 4.26 million foreign guests in Q1, the Canary Islands are expecting another visitation record this year, following the 15.2 million visitors in 2024. Spain as a whole has also seen tourist growth, welcoming 17.1 million international travelers from January to March 2025, representing a 5.7 percent increase compared to the previous year's quarter.
As a result, residents are pushing for sustainable tourism practices that balance economic benefits with environmental protection. This involves possible restrictions on new tourist projects and a focus on eco-friendly practices. Furthermore, hospitality workers have engaged in strikes for better working conditions, labor rights, and fair compensation, highlighting the multifaceted issues underlying mass tourism in the Canary Islands. By advocating for changes in the tourism sector, residents aim to preserve their local communities and natural environments while promoting responsible tourism practices.
- The Canary Islands residents, as part of "The Canary Islands Have a Limit" movement, have called for a community policy that addresses small and medium-sized undertakings, particularly in the tourism sector, to alleviate housing shortages and protect the environment from detrimental impacts.
- Tenerife, one of the Canary Islands, has implemented several measures as part of its community policy, including visitor caps, eco-taxes, and restrictions on tourist facilities, in a bid to balance the economic benefits of tourism with environmental protection.
- As the Canary Islands continue to attract millions of foreign guests, residents are advocating for a lifestyle shift that promotes sustainable tourism practices, focusing on small and medium-sized undertakings that prioritize environmental science and general-news reporting about responsible travel and political actions that support local communities.
