Thousands protest in Spain against over-tourism

(CLO) Thousands of people protested in resorts in Spain's Canary Islands on Sunday against overtourism , which they say has pushed up housing prices and made it impossible for locals to buy homes.

Carrying the slogan "Canary Islands on the Limit", people protested simultaneously in Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Palma, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote and El Hierro, calling for a change in the tourism model for these islands.

People take part in a protest demanding changes to the tourism model in the Canary Islands on the island of Gran Canaria, Spain, October 20, 2024. Photo: REUTERS/Borja Suarez

At Playa de las Americas beach in Tenerife, protesters appeared as tourists sunbathed and chanted "This beach is ours".

Activists say the influx of millions of tourists each year is depleting limited natural resources such as water and damaging the environment. At least 8,000 people took part in the protests, according to the Spanish government .

Between January and September this year, 9.9 million tourists visited the Canary Islands, according to Spain's National Statistics Institute, up 10.3% from the same period in 2023. The population of the archipelago last year was 2.2 million.

“We need to change the tourism model to bring prosperity to this place, a change to respect and appreciate what this land has, because it is so beautiful,” resident Sara Lopez, 32, said on Sunday.

Spain, a country dependent on tourism, has seen a series of protests against overtourism this year, particularly in popular tourist destinations such as Barcelona, ​​Mallorca and Malaga.

The Canary Islands regional government has drafted a law expected to be passed this year to tighten regulations on short-term rentals after complaints from locals about rising house prices.

Newly built properties will be banned from the short-term rental market and licensed owners will have five years to comply with the requirements, which include allowing neighbours the right to object to the permits.

The Canary Islands have decided to tighten regulations on tourist rentals after the number of private rental properties exploded in recent years.

Hundreds of protesters took to the streets of Valencia on Saturday to call for more affordable housing, arguing that tourist rental apartments were driving up house prices.

Cao Phong (according to Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/hang-nghin-nguoi-bieu-tinh-phan-doi-du-lich-qua-muc-o-quan-dao-canary-cua-tay-ban-nha-post317682.html