Canary Islands Residents Protest Against Mass Tourism

Canary Islands Protest: Locals Demand Action Against Mass Tourism Las Palmas, Canary Islands – On Sunday, May 18, 2025, thousands of residents took to the streets of the Canary Islands to protest against the overwhelming impact of mass tourism on their islands. The demonstrations, which took place across several islands, saw participants carrying signs and banners, voicing their concerns about issues such as rising living costs and the environmental consequences of unchecked tourism growth. "We can't live like this anymore," said one protester, who preferred to remain anonymous. "The tourists are taking over, and we are losing our homes and our way of life." Another participant highlighted the problem of rising rent prices, stating, "It's impossible to afford to live here anymore. The rental market is completely distorted by the demand from tourists." The protesters' demands included the implementation of a tourist tax to help fund public services and infrastructure, a temporary halt to the construction of new holiday homes to alleviate pressure on housing, and restrictions on property purchases by non-residents to prevent further displacement of locals. The protests underscore the growing tension between the economic benefits of tourism and the need to protect the environment and the well-being of local communities. The Canary Islands government has yet to respond to the protesters' demands, but the scale of the demonstrations indicates a significant shift in public opinion and a growing determination to address the negative consequences of mass tourism.