Sunday’s protests in Playa Las Americas, the heart of tourism in the south of Tenerife, have sparked concern among business owners. The 20-O (October 20th) demonstration organised by the platform Canarias tiene un límite (Canary Islands Have a Limit) took place on the seafront, and although the march remained peaceful during its course, it culminated in a large group going onto the beach aiming to highlight the negative effects of mass tourism directly to holidaymakers.
The protests only drew around 10,000 participants across various locations in the Canary Islands, a stark contrast to a previous demonstration in April, which saw over 57,000 people take to the streets. However, the drop in turnout has not lessened the impact on the views of local businesses, as images of confused and, in some cases, harassed tourists circulated worldwide, raising concerns about the rise of "tourismphobia."
Javier Cabrera, president of the Circle of Entrepreneurs and Professionals of Southern Tenerife (CEST), expressed his concerns, questioning the overall representativeness of the protests. He pointed out that the participation amounted to just 0.5% of the local population, suggesting that the demonstrations did not reflect the views of the broader Canarian society.
Cabrera warned that while some of the grievances raised by the protesters may be legitimate, encouraging anti-tourism sentiment could prove dangerous for a region so reliant on the industry. He urged for alternative ways to address the issues without harming the tourism sector, which remains a cornerstone of the local economy.
Similarly, Jorge Marichal, president of the hotel association Ashotel, criticised the protests' approach. While he supported the right to protest, he found it regrettable that tourists were being stigmatised. Marichal emphasised that while the protesters' concerns, such as rising living costs and insufficient infrastructure, are valid, they won’t be solved by scaring away tourists.
He also pointed to holiday rentals as one of the key contributors to skyrocketing housing prices, an issue that needs to be tackled without targeting holidaymakers.
The effects of the protests are not just limited to local tensions. Hotel operators in southern Tenerife have reported an increase in concerns from potential visitors. According to a hotel director with over a decade of experience in the region, some guests have been calling to ask whether it is still safe to visit the Canary Islands.
As the debate around the future of tourism in the Canary Islands continues to intensify, business owners and local leaders are calling for calm and urging a balanced approach to solving the region's economic challenges without alienating the industry that sustains it.
