Anti-tourism activists have vowed a summer of misery across Spain this summer as they intensify their campaign against mass tourism.
Protesters have recently blocked beauty spots and set fire to hire cars in popular holiday destinations.
In Ibiza, the famous Es Vedra viewpoint has been barricaded with boulders by frustrated landowners tired of tourist crowds.
Meanwhile, in Tenerife, masked vandals reportedly torched around 20 rental vehicles at the Costa Adeje resort last week.
The escalating protests come ahead of a planned international summit where activist groups will discuss coordinating their campaign against mass tourism
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The escalating protests come ahead of a planned international summit where activist groups will discuss coordinating their campaign against mass tourism.
The Es Vedra viewpoint, where thousands normally gather to watch sunset, now displays a blunt sign warning: “Private Property. Restricted Access.”
This action appears mild compared to the violence in Tenerife, where disturbing footage shows masked individuals dousing rental vehicles with flammable liquid before setting them ablaze.
The Costa Adeje resort, popular with British holidaymakers, was the scene of this shocking act of protest.
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Angry demonstrators targeted visitors last year, blaming them for soaring rents and a cost of living crisis, with campaigners threatening to escalate protests by blocking airports.
The anti-tourism movement is gaining momentum across southern Europe with at least 15 activist groups set to meet in Barcelona next month.
Organisations from Spain, Portugal, Italy and France will gather to plot their next steps against mass tourism.
The Neighbourhood Assembly for Tourist Degrowth, a key player in the movement, stated it wants to “strengthen the network of the territories of southern Europe against tourists.”
This summit follows a summer of major demonstrations across Spain’s popular resorts.
In January, shocking graffiti reading “kill a tourist” appeared in Tenerife, raising concerns that the protest movement might be taking a more extreme turn.
In October, hundreds of protesters stormed Tenerife’s Troya beach, surrounding sunbathing tourists while chanting “More tourists, more misery” and “the Canary Islands are not for sale”.
Earlier in 2024, six activists went on hunger strike for 20 days outside a church in La Laguna.
They demanded authorities halt construction of a five-star hotel near one of Tenerife’s last virgin beaches.
In Majorca, two major demonstrations took place in Palma, with tourists being booed while dining.
Political organisation Tanekra Canarias claimed: “Most of the income generated by tourism in the Canary Islands does not stay in the region” and “Massive tourism is associated with a rise in local inflation, especially with regard to housing.”
Activists are continuing to demand government action to address the impact of mass tourism on local communities.
The Es Vedra viewpoint, where thousands normally gather to watch sunset, now displays a blunt sign warning: “Private Property. Restricted Access”
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Hotel bosses in the Canary Islands admitted British holidaymakers were calling to ask if they would be safe amid the protests.
Protesters are particularly concerned about soaring rents, which they blame on the proliferation of Airbnb-style holiday lets.
Other grievances include sea pollution, traffic gridlock and the lack of affordable housing.
One spokesperson for “Canary Islands on the Brink” warned that “a tragedy could occur” if authorities don’t address their concerns.
The movement shows no signs of abating as the summer tourist season approaches.
