A British expat is leading the anti-tourism movement in the Canary Islands amid concerns they are on the brink of collapse.
Welshman Brian Harrison is the secretary general of Salvar La Tejita, a campaign group that wants to limit the number of tourists allowed to visit Tenerife, the largest of the islands. The group started as a protest agaiunst a new hotel close to Brian’s home in 2016, but has since become a part of the wider anti-tourism movement that has swept through Spain.
It comes just months after experts revealed the quality and quantity of developments in the Canary Islands is causing a crisis, with the region “seven times” over its capacity. Some have gone as far as to say the holiday hotspot is on the “brink of collapse”.
Meanwhile tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets of Spain in April to call for an end to “overtourism” in Barcelona.
Welshman Mr Harrison however has denied he is a being “a bit hypocritical” for leading the campaign. The 57-year-old was born and raised in Bridgend, South Wales, but moved to Spain after university.
Speaking to The Telegraph, he said: “I’ve never really felt like I belonged anywhere. I didn’t just go on holiday to Spain and stay there, I made a plan to move here when I was in my early twenties and I’ve lived here for most of my life.”
However, Mr Harrison does appreciate the air of irony in his involvement in Spain’s anti-tourism movement but believes he is entitled to take part because of how long he’s lived in Spain.
He added: “Why wouldn’t anyone want to take care of a place they’ve lived in for over 30 years?”
Daniel Duque, 46, the Salvar Le Tejita spokesman says the movement is aimed at politicians who have allowed visitors levels to “reach breaking point”. He says that while the Canary Islands “owe a lot to tourists”, the current model needs to change to “tourism of quality” instead of “tourism of quantity”.
Although Mr Duque says he doesn’t condone the actions of campaigners in Barcelona, who are said to have gone as far as dousing tourists in water pistols. Mr Duque says the main issues include a lack of affordable housing and a rising in living costs, which locals blame on mass tourism.
“If politicians carry on ignoring what the public are demanding, there’s going to be a public uprising,” he said.
Previously experts had warned the Canary Islands could “go the same way” as Barcelona, with too much building for tourists forcing locals away from Tenerife. They said it could have a negative impact on infrastructure for local families.
Campaign group Ben Magec-Ecologistas en Accion is among those who want limits set on the number of tourists visiting the Canaries. “The Canary Islands have a limit,” Ben Magec says, worried about too many people visiting.
The group believes that litter left behind by tourists is having an adverse impact on the plants and wildlife on the island. Some ecologists believing it could cope with half of the five million tourists welcomed to Tenerife each year.
