Anger is set to shatter the sun-kissed peace of the Canary Islands today (Sunday) as an estimated ‘100,000’ protesters take to the streets demanding an end to ‘mass tourism’.
The anti-tourist demonstration is the latest of a series on the island organised by locals who say they are furious at unaffordable housing, a lack of jobs and damage to the environment.
Activists from the “20-0” movement will march in tourist hotspots including Playa Las Americas, Corralejo, Puerto del Carmen and Maspalomas.
British tourists make up the largest group heading to the sunshine of the island chain, with around 5.7 million jetting to the region last year alone.
But increasing tension has risen in some communities from native Canary Islanders who feel foreign visitors drive up property prices and put too much strain on the natural environment and infrastructure.
Ivan Cerdena Molina, a member of the local environmental organisation ATAN, took a leading role in the previous protests and said the new event will attempt to directly engage with holidaymakers.
He told Express.co.uk: “We are going to take loudspeakers, we are going to stop in the bars, [hotel] terraces and tell the people what are our problems.
“We are going to say ‘you are swimming in s***’, you are making our housing prices higher and the industry behind you [is not helping the island].
“I think the atmosphere is peaceful [but] we are going there to demonstrate. We are full of arguments.”
Despite the protests, it’s reported the Canary Islands regional government, led by the Coalición Canaria and the Partido Popular (PP) parties, has continued to reject measures such as an eco-tax or imposing limits on tourist numbers in certain crowded areas.
The Canarian Weekly reports organisers of both the 20A and 20-O protests say they are not ‘anti-tourists’ but are in favour of more protection for the environment and housing for locals.
The UK Foreign Office has issued a travel advisory for Brits travelling to the Canary Islands, as well as Valencia on the Spanish mainland, ahead of the planned protests.
In a statement the Foreign Office warned: “Political gatherings or marches can take place with little or no warning, particularly in cities. While most demonstrations are peaceful, there is a risk of unrest or violence.
“If you’re near areas where demonstrations are taking place, be aware of what is happening around you and move away if there are signs of disorder.”
