The Commercial Director of Condor Airlines, Christian Lesjak, warned during a tourism conference in Tenerife, that "if politicians are not careful, they will put the tourism in the Canary Islands at risk."
His remarks come amid growing concerns over the impact of mass tourism in the archipelago, with hundreds of protesters taking to the streets to demand stricter regulations.
The FVW Travel Talk tourism conference, held at the Hotel Mencey in Santa Cruz, brought together around 50 tourism industry experts and German travel agents.
At the same time, demonstrators, organised by the activist group Canarias tiene un límite, gathered outside to call for immediate action to protect the islands from what they describe as an unsustainable tourism model.
Speaking to GeoTenerife, an organisation that recently secured national geological interest status for Puertito de Adeje, Lesjak acknowledged the legitimacy of the concerns raised by protesters. "We are interested in the cultural and ecological integrity of the island because it is a product that needs to be protected," he stated.
When asked for a message to those advocating for limits on tourism, he encouraged them to "put pressure on politicians, who must take responsibility."
GeoTenerife director Sharon Backhouse emphasised that the concerns of Canarian citizens regarding unchecked tourism growth are being ignored by authorities. She welcomed Condor Airlines’ stance, calling it "a significant move by a key industry player to support the voices of Canarians calling for change."
Protesters Demand Action Against Over-Tourism
The protest, organised by Canarias Tiene Un Límite, was strategically timed to coincide with the conference, highlighting the growing local dissatisfaction with mass tourism’s effects on the Canary Islands. According to the group, the islands received 18 million tourists in 2024, a figure they deem completely unsustainable.
"There are no limits in place, and tourism continues to grow unchecked, pushing the islands towards environmental and social collapse. We are swimming in polluted waters and stuck in traffic for hours on a daily basis, while tourism keeps expanding, worsening these issues," the organisation stated.
Protesters’ key demands include:
Demonstrators argue that "Canarias is no longer a paradise" and that without decisive action, the region’s natural and social fabric will continue to deteriorate.
