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Tenerife Imposes Visitor Fees in Response to Mass Tourism Protests Across Canary Islands
The Canary Islands have witnessed a surge in tourism, leading to escalating concerns among local residents. Thousands of residents across Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, and Fuerteventura took to the streets recently in protest of the detrimental effects of mass tourism.
Organized by the platform "The Canary Islands Have a Limit," the demonstrations call for rent control and a halt to new tourist development projects. Local associations have long criticized a tourism industry that, in their view, favors investors at the expense of local fauna, flora, and residents, particularly in terms of ever-increasing rent prices.
To address the issues stemming from the influx of tourists, the authorities in Tenerife have implemented several measures. Daily visitor caps have been imposed on popular tourist destinations such as the Anaga park, and the number of tourist buses has been limited.
Tenerife also plans to introduce a visitor fee, or eco-tax, for Teide—Spain's highest peak. The goal is to reduce littering and better manage the impact of tourists on the site. The exact fee for this eco-tax is yet to be determined. From 2026, private vehicles will be restricted from the area, with electric shuttles being used to transport visitors instead. The Teide cable car—the world's first to run on solar energy—will continue to operate.
Tourism in the Canary Islands has been booming, with the region welcoming 4.26 million foreign visitors in the first quarter of the year. With 15.2 million visitors projected for 2024 and an expected record breaker in 2025,Implemented measures aim to balance tourism revenue with environmental protection and social sustainability, countering concerns about overtourism in the region.
Additionally, the Canary Islands government has challenged a national decree on short-term rentals, arguing it encroaches on its regional powers. This push for more autonomy in managing tourism-related regulations underscores the importance of local control for ensuring the preservation of natural environments and respect for the needs of the local population.
- The community policy in the Canary Islands is now focused on addressing the concerns of small and medium-sized undertakings, as they aim to harmonize tourism revenue with environmental protection and social sustainability.
- In light of the ongoing protests and the need for lifestyle changes, the introduction of a visitor fee for small and medium-sized undertakings in the tourism sector, such as Teide, is intended to reduce environmental impact and improve the management of tourist destinations.
- As the Canary Islands grapple with the effects of mass tourism, small and medium-sized undertakings in the political and general-news landscape are covering the debates surrounding rent control, new development projects, and the regional government's push for autonomy in managing tourism-related regulations.
