Six months after the historic April 20th protests, where over 57,000 people took to the streets demanding a change in the tourism model, the same group organised protests for today, October 20th, in the heart of tourist resorts across the islands.
In Gran Canaria the protest was in the tourist area of San Bartolomé de Tirajana in, and the march concluded at the Faro de Maspalomas. There, spokesperson Noelia Sánchez addressed the crowd and read the movement’s manifesto.
Despite the passionate turnout, the number of participants fell short of the April figures. While organisers estimated around 5,000 attendees, the National Police reported between 1,500 and 2,000 protesters.
The protestors reiterated demands from April, focusing on:
- A tourist tax for foreign visitors to ensure better care for protected areas.
- A moratorium on holiday rental properties.
- Increased wages and a fairer distribution of wealth generated by tourism, which accounts for over 35% of the Canary Islands' GDP.
Many residents argue that despite the government's creation of working groups to discuss sustainable tourism, there has been little action since April. These ongoing frustrations were palpable among protestors seeking genuine change.
The demonstration proceeded mostly peacefully but was briefly interrupted when police identified a protestor who had placed a sticker over a hotel plaque. This led to tensions with the police as they intervened, causing anger among the crowd.
Tourists in the area were caught off guard by the march. Many watched from hotel balconies or filmed the event on their phones. Some light-heartedly exchanged gestures with protesters, resulting in a brief, ironic interaction where a small group of tourists blew kisses, and protesters responded with hand ‘signals’.
While participation was lower this time, the movement's message remains clear: Canarians are pushing for an overhaul of the tourism model to ensure a more balanced, sustainable future for the islands.
