‘It’s not a theme park’: As tourism surges, Canary Islanders call on visitors to show more respect

Almost 100 million foreign tourists visited Spain in 2024 – and 30.5 million of them went to the Canary Islands and Balearic Islands. 

With more protests against overtourism planned in the island communities, Euronews Travel speaks to local residents about their concerns for the future of the Canary Islands. They say it’s not that they don’t want tourists – but they want to see a change in how guests plan their holiday and behave once they get to the archipelago.

The Canary Islands are now a year-round holiday hotspot

Guillermo, a local guide in Gran Canaria, says that this winter has been the busiest he’s ever seen. That’s backed up by numbers too, as last December was 1.1 per cent higher than the same period in 2023, according to data from Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), Spain’s statistical office.

The largest of the islands, Gran Canaria has always been more of a winter destination, says Guillermo, highlighting that the British came to the north of the island 200 years ago seeking out health tourism with the mild climate, medicinal waters, and the grand spas at Azuaje and Berrazales.

“Things changed in the 1950s and 1960s. People went to the south coast looking for the sun. I think things are changing again as people now come in the summer months and look at other attractions, like our landscapes, culture and history, the beauty of our hiking and diving spots, and whale watching. It’s not like the Balearic Islands where everything comes to a stop in the winter.” 

Unlike some of his peers who work for large tour companies, Guillermo says he is ‘privileged’ as he runs his own company, which specialises in private and small group nature and history tours. 

Guillermo has traditionally spent his summers doing less guiding work, preferring to help with local conservation efforts instead, but finds that nowadays he has visitors booking him all year-round.

Most of Spain’s visitors came from the United Kingdom

In 2024, the bulk of Spain’s visitors came from three European countries: the United Kingdom, France, and Germany. Brits in Spain spent a total of €22.602 billion in 2024, notably 13.5 per cent more than 2023.

Catalonia in northeastern Spain – home to popular holiday hotspots Barcelona and the lively beach resort of Costa Brava –  received the most tourists at 19.9 million. 

But the Balearic (15.3 million visitors) and Canary Islands (15.2 million visitors) weren’t far behind. 

These are stark figures: the seven Canary Islands have a population of just 2.2 million people, which means last year there were 6.9 times more visitors than residents.

Last year, protestors took to the streets of Ibiza saying they are forced to live in cars and caravans because they can’t afford housing as tourism accommodation has priced them out. Like locals in the Canaries, they said they are not against tourism per se, just the negative impacts of it on everyday life.

Data shows that visitor numbers to the Canary Islands are set to rise yet again in 2025, based on visitor numbers from the first few months of this year. 

Even locals working in tourism are involved in protests

Despite making his livelihood from the industry, Guillermo has joined the so-called ‘anti-tourist’ protests in Gran Canaria and tells Euronews Travel that the international media misunderstands what they are really about. 

He says residents want to “regain balance” and help to solve the issues caused by the pressure of increased visitors. 

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Right now, most of the tourism money is leaving the island, Guillermo says.

“We want a fair amount of the income that tourism creates to go to the local population. Most of the benefits go outside the island to foreign companies.”

One of the biggest issues, he flags, is the “tight situation” in housing, caused mostly by short-term rentals operated by outside players.

Airbnb has not brought the money locals hoped for

“Since Airbnb started rocketing up, local people can no longer live in the areas they used to, and housing is becoming impossible across all the islands. When you find [Canarian] people having full-time jobs and not being able to pay rent, you can see that there’s a problem there.” 

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When the online booking platform arrived on the island, Guillermo says most residents thought it would be a good way for them to share in the boon of tourism. 

For 10 or 20 years, that was how it was used he says: “If you had a family heritage home sitting empty, brothers and sisters could make some money.”

“But now whole buildings in Las Palmas, where people were once living, are dedicated to holiday rentals. It needs to be regulated. There are foreign companies buying up entire houses and not having to pay taxes for it here – or anywhere else. That’s a big no-no.”

Some nationwide rules apply to short-term rentals in the archipelago, including a mandatory registration system. From 3 April 2025, residents will be able to vote to ban some new holiday rentals in local housing areas. 

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The regional government has similarly proposed a new law on ‘Viviendas Vacacionales’ (short-term rentals). But the draft is mainly focused on illegal listings and safety standards, tasking more police to shut down illegal listings, and handing out fines of €30,000 to owners of unlicensed lodgings. 

Nestor Marrero Rodríguez, secretary of ATAN (the Tenerife Association of Friends of Nature),  and an organiser of Tenerife’s overtourism protests, has the same message to tourists: “Avoid using Airbnb because it increases rental prices for locals and generates a serious process of gentrification.” Instead, he suggests visitors stay in locally-run accommodation.

Nestor highlights that mass protests are being organised for April 2025 while smaller, independent actions are underway to raise awareness. This includes a march taking place on 16 February in Tenerife’s capital, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, to coincide with the FVW Travel Talk congress, a major international travel event. 

“These protests would probably not even happen if locals had a better reflection of the economy that was generated in tourism,” adds Guillermo.

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Tourist behaviour adds fire to local pressure

Canarian residents are concerned about the archipelago’s fragile nature and resource use, and feel some visitors aren’t always respectful.

The “worst behaviours” Nestor has witnessed in Tenerife include assaulting airplane staff, (“which cause delays”), going off authorised trails, collecting rocks and shells, and flying drones in protected areas, which he cautions “is illegal in most of the archipelago without permission”. 

“British tourists are undoubtedly the worst behaved and show dramatic reactions in person and in the media when their behaviour and rejection by the local population is exposed,” he says, adding that this is often exacerbated by overdrinking and violence.

Guillermo is less critical of British visitors. “I’m an English-speaking guide so my opinion is based solely on what I see around me. I find most British people on my tours respectful, but with all cultures there will always be people I have to tell not to litter or drop their cigarette filters on the ground. And there will always be a certain profile of people coming just for the drinks or the sun.”

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The local guide says that his business model relies on preserving Gran Canaria’s nature. “You might think it doesn’t matter if you wander off an official path in a protected area – like the special natural reserve of the Maspalomas Dunes. But know that it’s not just you – four million people are doing the same! When thousands of people trespass daily it all adds up.”

“I understand that not everyone is looking for the local culture, but I ask you to be aware that there are people living here 365 days of the year. It’s not a theme park. You can’t do as you please because you think someone is coming to clean your mess. We are directly affected by your misbehaving and attitudes,” adds Guillermo.

Overtourism: You don’t have to be part of the problem

The best way to ensure you are perceived to not be part of the problem is to “follow the rules,” says Guillermo. “Don’t drive your rental car in a place where it’s not allowed. Don’t pick flowers and rocks as a souvenir or wander off official paths. Try not to leave a trace.” 

Nestor feels that tourists who stay at all-inclusive hotels “only leave a negative footprint of resources on the island”, such as trash and water consumption issues, and adds that most all-inclusive tour operators are “usually owned by foreign companies…that leave little profit for the local population.”

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Both islanders say you can help residents and “make your tourism money matter” by supporting local businesses.

“Explore the island by yourself, hire a guide and visit our museums or go on interesting visits to our wineries or our cheese factories,” suggests Guillermo.

Nestor has the same message. “Go to the beach instead of using the pool, book real tours and experiences through social networks – you can find good companies that will offer a real experience.” 

Even if you are visiting for an all-inclusive beach holiday, Guillermo suggests eating dinner in a local restaurant instead of in the hotel, as he thinks most visitors will enjoy the cuisine. However he reflects that in some touristic areas where cooked English breakfasts are the norm you won’t always find the true local flavour.

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More resources to manage visitor numbers is needed

As a nature guide, Guillermo believes that any income from tourism should be used to improve vigilance and regulations in the Canary Island’s natural protected areas. He thinks the local administration should create a budget to pay for better infrastructure and protection of natural resources: “In the whole island of Lanzarote, they have just two or three forest rangers, that’s very very low!” 

“At Roque Nublo and Los Azulejos – the most iconic rocks in Gran Canaria – it’s just too much, with cars parked in the middle of the road so even fire trucks and ambulances can’t get through.”