Protestors are calling for a freeze on tourists, arguing that the current model has made life unaffordable and environmentally unsustainable for residents.
Thousands of people protested in Tenerife on Saturday calling for the Spanish island to temporarily limit tourist arrivals.
Holding placards reading “People live here” and “We don’t want to see our island die”, they’re urging for a stem to short-term holiday rentals and hotel construction which are driving up housing costs for locals.
The protesters are being backed by environmental groups including Greenpeace, WWF, Ecologists in Action, Friends of the Earth and SEO/Birdlife.
I mean they’ve become dependent on that money possibly, but that doesn’t mean it’s the only way to. And while they’re asking for restrictions to or even a pause to Tourism, they’re not saying it should be banned. Just that they need to do it in a way that doesn’t price out locals and destroy the culture.