A British family found themselves confined to their hotel during a large anti-tourism protest in Tenerife, expressing fear over the escalating situation on the island. The demonstration, part of
widespread protests across the Spanish Canary Islands, took place over the weekend, with locals voicing frustration over the negative impact of tourism on their communities.
Lee Pattemore, who was vacationing in Tenerife with his wife Stacey and their two daughters, aged 11 and 6, described the frightening scene as protesters surrounded their hotel.
"The protesters were circling the hotel, and my daughter kept asking, ‘Daddy, why are they shouting?’” Pattemore recounted in an interview with The Sun. "There was a lot of pushing and shoving, and now we're too scared to leave the hotel."
The protests, which took place across the islands, were aimed at drawing attention to the detrimental effects that mass tourism is having on local life, from rising rents to overcrowded public spaces.
The largest demonstration occurred at Troya Beach in Tenerife, where tourists in swimwear watched in shock as locals chanted slogans like "More tourists, more misery" and "The Canary Islands are not for sale." Protesters equipped with drums and whistles urged visitors to reconsider their impact on the islands, advocating for more sustainable tourism practices.
Tenerife has seen a surge in anti-tourism protests, particularly during peak tourist season. Many activists argue that the influx of visitors has driven up living costs and pushed out locals from their communities.
Earlier this year, Carlos Tarife, the deputy mayor of Tenerife’s capital, Santa Cruz, voiced concerns over the type of tourism the island attracts. He called for a shift away from all-inclusive packages, which encourage tourists to stay within the confines of their hotels and contribute less to the local economy.
"Instead of large hotels with hundreds of beds, we should focus on fewer, higher-quality accommodations," Tarife said, emphasizing the need for a different approach to tourism on the island.
The protests come as pressure mounts on local governments to address the growing tension between the economic benefits of tourism and the need to preserve the quality of life for residents. Photo by Andrey Tenerife, Wikimedia commons.
