Canary Islands residents have reached their limit and have a stark message for UK holidaymakers: "It's not a theme park". The locals in the Canary Islands insist they are not against visitors but are tired of dealing with misbehaviour from tourists rather than enjoying the economic benefits.
One local guide in Gran Canaria, Guillermo, expressed, "We want a fair amount of the income that tourism creates to go to the local population. Most of the benefits go outside the island to foreign companies."
In an interview with Euro News, he lamented the impact on housing caused by the surge in Airbnb, saying: "Since Airbnb started rocketing up, local people can no longer live in the areas they used to, and housing is becoming impossible across all the islands."
Guillermo pointed out the gravity of the situation, noting, "When you find [Canarian] people having full-time jobs and not being able to pay rent, you can see that there's a problem there."
Coming to the defence of British tourists, the English-speaking guide shared, "I find most British people on my tours respectful, but with all cultures there will always be people I have to tell not to litter or drop their cigarette filters on the ground. And there will always be a certain profile of people coming just for the drinks or the sun.", reports Birmingham Live.
However, some have been critical of UK tourists, with Nestor Marrero Rodríguez, secretary of the Tenerife Association of Friends of Nature, telling the website, "British tourists are undoubtedly the worst behaved and show dramatic reactions in person and in the media when their behaviour and rejection by the local population is exposed,".
New statistics from the Spanish government have revealed a significant number of UK holidaymakers flocking to Spain in 2024. Visitors from the UK have splashed out over €22.6bn (£18.8bn) while enjoying Spanish delights this year, marking a sizeable increase of 13.5% compared to 2023.
In a tip for future travellers, one tourism expert advised: "Go to the beach instead of using the pool, book real tours and experiences through social networks – you can find good companies that will offer a real experience."
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English (United States) ·