The explosive growth of mass tourism has led to protests by islanders who are concerned about rising prices and the loss of nature. In the Canary Islands, residents are worried about the increase in prices caused by mass tourism and its impact on the natural environment. According to the environmental organization Fundación Canarina, the number of tourists has increased from around 11.5 million annual visitors to about 16 million over the past decade. Some residents have been forced to sell their homes because they can no longer afford to live on the islands.
In response to these concerns, Minister of Tourism and Employment, Jessica de Leon, has put forward a bill to regulate the renting of vacation homes in an effort to address some of these issues raised by residents. Additionally, Autonomous region officials in the Canary Islands are proposing a dialogue between politicians, researchers and citizens to develop a sustainable tourism strategy.
These efforts come at a time when other popular tourist destinations are also facing backlash from locals who are pushing for a more sustainable approach to tourism. In Barcelona, new construction of hotels and tourist accommodations in the city center has been banned since 2017. Similarly, Venice has implemented measures to control the negative impact of tourism such as limitations on tour groups and a day visit fee for tourists.
Overall, these protests highlight the need for a more sustainable approach to tourism that balances economic benefits with preservation of natural environments and quality of life for residents.
CNN reports that local activist group called Canarias se agota will begin a hunger strike this week in protest against mass tourism’s effects on their islands. The group is calling for support from residents and urging them to join in forming human chains to convey their message to government officials. The group believes that the Canary Islands should not have to sacrifice its future for sake of tourism.
It is clear that as global travel continues to grow, it is important for governments and communities around the world
