UK tourists warned as 'mass protests' planned across Canary Islands

A mass protest is being planned for May 18 in the Canary Islands

UK tourists are being warned of the mass protests planned for the Canary Islands next month to counteract 'over-tourism'.

This is the latest in a series of anti-tourism protests that are calling for a more sustainable economic model for the archipelago, warning that the current trajectory is leading to irreversible social, environmental, and economic collapse.

Organised by the Canarias Tiene Un Límite, the date of the next protest is May 18, 2025 and it comes after amendments to the Land Law (Ley del Suelo) and discussions around a possible Residency Law were suggested by the Canarian government.

But the Canarias Tiene Un Límite said that proposed legislation is “empty political gestures” that fail to address the root causes of the current crisis.

“Public institutions have chosen inaction and contempt for the popular will,” the statement reads, accusing political leaders of allowing the archipelago to slide further into systemic collapse.

The collective warned that future actions will not be confined to peaceful demonstrations. “We will no longer wait behind banners for change,” they stated, signalling a shift toward more direct forms of protest. These include confronting political leaders, disrupting public events, and raising awareness in locations symbolic of the criticised economic model.

Their goal is to pressure institutions and the tourism industry to acknowledge and respond to the long-standing grievances surrounding the territory’s overreliance on tourism, housing inaccessibility, and environmental degradation.

Canarias Tiene Un Límite has called on residents from all of the islands to take part in the 18th May demonstration. The group is urging everyone who feels unrepresented or marginalised by the current economic and political framework to raise their voices.

“The Canaries cannot remain a picture-postcard backdrop for the enjoyment of a few,” the statement concluded. “Development must be aligned with social wellbeing and environmental protection.”

As the movement gains momentum, this upcoming protest is expected to be another pivotal moment in the growing push for deep structural change in the Canary Islands.

The announcement of the next protest comes after a weekend of action over Easter which saw thousands of hotel workers and tourists marching the streets of Tenerife.

The demonstration was part of a two-day strike organised by hospitality and hotel employees in the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, demanding wage increases that keep pace with the cost of living.