Thousands of Lanzarote residents took to the streets again today, Sunday, October 20th, to protest against mass tourism and demand a change in the island's tourism model. Around 2,000 people participated in the demonstration, which began at 12:00pm in Puerto del Carmen's Plaza de las Naciones and concluded in front of the Hotel Fariones, where a manifesto was read.
Lanzarote was not alone in its call for change as all the Canary Islands (excluding La Gomera and La Graciosa), also joined the demonstrations. The protests even spread to cities in mainland Spain, including Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia, and Granada, as well as to Berlin (Germany).
The protest was organized by the group Lanzarote tiene un límite (Lanzarote has a limit), which claims that authorities have ignored the demands made during previous protests on April 20th. According to the group, while politicians talked about "rethinking the tourism model," the situation has only worsened, with illegal projects continuing to be approved and praised. They also criticised the regional government's so-called "expert panel" as a mere "farce" and argued that those benefiting from the current system are unlikely to bring about the necessary changes.
The protests highlight the growing frustration among residents over the unchecked growth of tourism on the island and the impact it has on local resources, the environment, and the quality of life for residents.
Protesters argue that their demands for reform, voiced in previous demonstrations, have been ignored. The organisers accuse the authorities of paying lip service to the need for change while allowing issues to worsen, such as approving projects that were previously ruled illegal by the courts.
The protests aim to shine a spotlight on the problems caused by mass tourism, including extreme inequality and environmental degradation. Organisers are holding demonstrations in popular tourist areas to make visitors aware of the situation.
The movement's key demands include:
- A moratorium on new tourism projects and vacation rentals.
- The suspension of illegal construction projects.
- A housing law to combat speculation and rising costs.
- Preservation of natural areas.
- Implementation of a real ecotax.
- Zero waste discharged into the sea.
- Energy sovereignty, ensuring sustainable and fair energy policies.
The protests stem from deep-seated frustrations about the impact of tourism on the Canary Islands' environment and economy. During an earlier demonstration on April 20th, 2024, 200,000 people took to the streets across the islands to demand a fairer economic model. Issues such as the difficulty of finding affordable housing, high poverty rates, water shortages, coastal degradation, and the negative effects of climate change have mobilised residents to call for immediate action.
The surge in tourism is one of the key concerns. Lanzarote welcomed 2.2 million tourists between January and August 2024, a 7.5% increase compared to the same period in 2023. According to the protest group Canarias tiene un límite ("The Canary Islands have a limit"), tourists consume up to six times more water than local residents (800 litres per tourist per day versus 127 litres for locals).
Additionally, the problem of untreated wastewater being dumped into the sea threatens the region's biodiversity, with 72% of wastewater discharge points in the Canary Islands operating without authorisation.
Environmental violations are also rampant. Between 2001 and 2020, the Canary Islands recorded around 38,000 environmental infractions, with nearly half related to illegal construction and development projects.
The housing crisis is another critical issue. Lanzarote has nearly 20,000 empty homes, but the rapid growth in holiday rentals (up 77% in just over a year) has exacerbated housing shortages. Foreign buyers now account for 25% of property purchases, pushing local housing prices higher and forcing many Canarian residents, particularly young people, to spend their entire income on rent.
The Canary Islands are also grappling with poverty. The region has the second-highest poverty rate in Spain, with one in three people at risk of social exclusion. According to Oxfam, 13.8% of Canarian workers, especially those in agriculture, domestic work, hospitality, and construction, live in poverty despite being employed.
