Canary Islands protests demand sustainable tourism model

On April 20, 2024, tens of thousands of protesters across the Canary Islands, including in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, demanded an end to unsustainable mass tourism. The demonstrations, under the slogan "Canarias se agota" (the Canaries are exhausted), highlighted environmental degradation, housing speculation, and the displacement of local communities. Key flashpoints include the Cuna del Alma project by a Belgian real estate company at El Puertito de Adeje, which threatens archaeological sites of the Guanches, and the construction of a hotel in the La Tejita nature reserve, where six volunteers began a hunger strike on April 11. The islands receive 14 million tourists annually, but much of the revenue goes to international corporations, leaving locals as "working poor." The Spanish government's Ley 12/2023 allows municipalities to declare "zones of tourist tension" to cap rents and curb speculation. Protesters reject accusations of "turismofobia," instead calling for a responsible model that protects biodiversity and local identity. Similar protests have occurred in European cities including London, Amsterdam, Berlin, Barcelona, Madrid, and Malaga.