The Canary Islands are urging British people not to cancel their holidays despite a wave of anti-tourism protests set to be carried out by locals.
Demonstrations are expected to go ahead on Saturday as residents complain about water usage, a lack of housing and pollution which they suggest is connected to overtourism.
Tensions have flared over recent weeks with graffiti appearing in popular hotspots telling visitors to "go home".
However, regional tourism chief Jessica de León insists that tourists are still welcome on the Islands.
The Canary Islands are urging British people not to cancel their holidays despite a wave of anti-tourism protests set to be carried out by locals
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"It is still safe to visit the Canary Islands, and we are delighted to welcome you," she told The Telegraph.
She added that she understands the frustration, but it was "unfair to blame tourism".
Fernando Clavijo, the Canary Islands president echoed León saying that some activists "smack of tourist-phobia".
"People who come here to visit and spend their money must not be criticised or insulted. We are playing with our main source of income," Clavijo said.
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Gabriel González, a councillor for the hard-Left Podemos party in Tenerife’s resort town of Adeje, hit back: "We have the feeling that we are not living off tourism; it is tourism that is living off us."
Néstor Marrero, secretary of a Tenerife ecology group called ATAN added: "The number of tourists should be reduced.
"We should aim for higher-quality visitors, not people in all-included resorts who don’t leave the hotel or interact with locals and our culture in any way."
Tourism in the Spanish archipelago accounts for 40 per cent of the local economy.
Earlier this week, hunger strike have been carried out in La Laguna, Tenerife, and six members of the “Canarias se agota” group
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The protest on Saturday will be the first time there is a cross-island coordinated protest over tourism.
Earlier this week, hunger strike have been carried out in La Laguna, Tenerife, and six members of the “Canarias se agota” group (The Canaries are wearing out).
In 2023, the islands hosted 16.2 million tourists, including 14.3 million foreigners – with British being the largest group.
