Anti-tourism activists in the Canary Islands have started torching and smashing the windows of hire cars as backlash against mass tourism in the Spanish archipelago turns violent.
In the shocking video a group of vandals can be seen prowling around a car park for multiple rental cars in the southern Tenerife resort of Costa Adeje.
The clip starts with the cameraman zooming in on the boots of rental cars which bear the logo of Cicar – a Canary Islands-based car rental company – while the suspenseful theme tune from Jaws is playing over the video.
Then the music abruptly changes to Edith Piaf’s ‘Non, Je ne regrette rien’ (No, I do not regret anything) as the group begins aggressively smashing up the windows of the rental cars.
It appears as though the cars are from multiple car rental companies as the filmer continues to zoom in on the vehicles’ rental badges.
One person then pours what appears to be a flammable liquid across the ground before seemingly setting fire to a car which can be seen ablaze as the video comes to a sudden end.
No group have taken responsibility for the attack, but the video has been shared by by various environmental and anti-tourism social media accounts in Tenerife, according to Canarian Weekly.
The video was posted with the following statement: ‘We have received this video from Canary Islands activists, exhausted by mass tourism, overpopulation in their neighbourhoods, and the complete lack of redistribution of the so-called wealth generated by tourism.’
In the shocking video a group of vandals can be seen prowling around a car park where multiple rental cars are kept before they start smashing up the cars
One person then pours what appears to be a flammable liquid across the ground before seemingly setting fire to a car which be seen ablaze as the video comes to a sudden end
Anti-tourism portesters in Spain holding a sign which says ‘Tourists go home you are not welcome’
Since the distressing video was posted on social media, Spain’s National Police have launched an investigation into whether the damage to 20 rental cars was indeed the work of activists.
This is the latest instance of anti-tourism protests in the Canary Islands becoming more violent.
In another incident in February arsons attacked construction equipment at the Cuna del Alma development in the south of Tenerife.
The controversial luxury housing project on undeveloped beachside land has sparked opposition from locals.
Roberto Mesa, an activist who shared the most recent video online, said: ‘Peaceful means have been exhausted.’
Mr Mesa, who claims to have no direct knowledge of the perpetrators, said that locals feel ignored and have had their peaceful protests disregarded.
With their year-round warm weather and golden beaches, the Canary Islands have long been a mecca for sun-seekers – with over six million Brits travelling to the archipelago yearly.
However, in recent years resent has been growing amongst the local population against what is perceived as mass tourism.
Thousands of people demonstrate against tourism policies on the island of Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain on April 20, 2024
Thousands of people demonstrate against tourism policies on the island of Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain on April 20, 2024
Protesters march on Las Americas beach during a demonstration to protest against mass tourism, in Arona on the Spanish Canary island of Tenerife, on October 20, 2024
This is despite Canary Island officials warning residents that ‘tourismphobia’ could cause a slump in the islands’ economy – which has grown heavily dependent on the 16million tourists who visit annually.
Despite this, last year saw an explosion in anti-tourism protests.
In July 2024, 200,000 people took to the streets of Tenerife to demonstrate against tourism.
The protests, organised by various groups including ‘Friends of Nature of Tenerife (ATAN)’ aimed to discourage foreign holidaymakers while also compelling councils to introduce new legislation aimed at protecting the islands from the effects of an ever-expanding tourism industry.
A recent protest erupted in October after hundreds of demonstrators stormed Tenerife’s Troya beach, where sun-seeking holidaymakers were stunned to be disrupted by a placard-waving mob yelling slogans such as ‘More tourists, more misery’ and ‘the Canary Islands are not for sale’.
Protests were also reported on neighbouring Gran Canaria.
Anti-tourism graffiti telling tourist to ‘go home’ has also been spotted across the islands.
The most shocking graffiti read ‘kill a tourist’ and was spotted on a house in Tenerife by a concerned resident who admitted to being worried that the mass protest movement against overcrowding was going too far.
Graffiti reading ‘kill a tourist’ has been spotted on a wall in Tenerife amid Spain’s anti-protest movement
Steve Heapy, Jet2’s CEO, warned the Canary Islands to stop playing a ‘dangerous game’ and end the ongoing anti-tourism protests
Last year, when the Canary Islands were the focus of anti-mass tourism protests hotel bosses there admitted British holidaymakers were calling to ask if they would be safe.
The rise in opposition to tourism prompted Jet 2’s CEO to warn the Canary Islands to stop playing a ‘dangerous game’ and end the ongoing anti-tourism protests in Spain before holidaymakers take their money elsewhere.
Steve Heapy issued the alert at Spain’s International Tourism Trade Fair in January, saying: ‘Anti-tourism protests and derogatory comments from local administrations make tourists feel unwelcome.
‘People don’t come to the Canaries to be mistreated or to witness protests’.
‘Anti-tourism protests and derogatory comments from local administrations make tourists feel unwelcome,’ Mr Heapy added.
‘People don’t come to the Canaries to be mistreated or to witness protests’.
He warned that such incidents tarnish the region’s image and push tourists toward destinations like Turkey and Morocco ‘where they feel valued’.
‘Not everyone is rich, and many tourists simply want an affordable and relaxing holiday. If they feel unwanted, they’ll look elsewhere,’ he said.
A group of Lanzarote locals launched their own pro-tourism march to cheers and applause from British holidaymakers
Not all the locals support the demonstrations, in October when protestors stormed a Tenerife beach and surrounded holidaymakers in their swimwear they were branded ‘d***heads’ by furious locals.
Canary islander Veronica Quintero said of the Tenerife beach revolt: ‘What they did was a d***head thing to do.
‘We have to fight for quality tourism but not against those who come here.’
‘We shouldn’t f*** the tourist who is on the beach because they have paid for an offer.’
Another local raged: ‘I don’t understand, countries competing, innovating to get money in the form of tourist investment or whatever because things are getting tough and these ignorant people with good telephones, well-fed thanks to the investments that have been made on this island.’
In Lanzarote, a group of locals launched their own pro-tourism march to cheers and applause from British holidaymakers.
This came after a march in October last year saw protesters take to the streets of Puerto del Carmen, which is popular with both Brits and Irish tourists, on the same day simultaneously demonstrations took place in Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Palma, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote and El Hierro.
But once the demonstrators had dissipated, dozens of other locals donned t-shirts that read ‘Lanzarote loves tourism’ and turned out for a march of their own, banging drums and hoisting their own signs – much to the delight of British travellers.
Augusto Ferreira, a restaurant owner from Puerto del Carmen, said fears of mass tourism were being stoked by politicians ‘playing political games’ and pointed out that thousands of locals in Lanzarote rely on holidaymakers for their livelihoods.
He told local news programme A Buena Hora: ‘I have walked many streets visiting businesses and talking to people. I have heard very nice stories from people who say their family live off tourism, and that thanks to tourism they are what they are.’
Activists are continuing to demand the government make a change to prevent the number of tourists visiting the holiday hotspot amid soaring rents.
It comes as Spain is also set to impose a 100 per cent tax on non-EU citizens buying homes in the country as it moves to prioritise housing availability for locals.
