Tourism Boom: Tourists Happy, Residents Suffer

Spanish protests against excessive tourism are mounting. Stickers were placed on the hotel walls: "Tourists, go home!"

AFP/DESIREE MARTIN

The members of the Canary Lelah movement participated in a protest against the development of hotels and mass tourism infrastructure in La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain on April 13th, 2024.

Peace in the Canary Islands, Spain, was disturbed on Saturday (13/4/2024). Protesters moved, protesting against excessive tourism which made local residents feel disadvantaged. Housing is increasingly unaffordable, clean water reserves are threatened, and noise is very disturbing to peace.

For a week now, several local residents have been on a hunger strike. They are part of the Canaries Sold Out movement, determined to continue their strike until their demands are met. They are calling for a halt to the construction of two new hotels in Tenerife, the largest and most developed island in the Canary Islands.

The Canary Islands are a cluster of seven islands off the west coast of Africa's Atlantic Ocean, located within the territory of Spain. With its volcanic landscape and year-round sunshine, the archipelago attracts millions of tourists from all over the world.

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AFP/DESIREE MARTIN

Members of the Tired Canaries movement demonstrate regarding the development of tourism infrastructure in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain, April 13, 2024.

Demonstrators also demand for local communities to be given more room to voice their opinions in determining development. They argue that development in the Canary Islands is uncontrolled and damaging to the environment. "Our islands are treasures that must be preserved," said the group in a press conference on Wednesday (17/4/2024).

The practice of overtourism in the Canary Islands makes the island's beauty a double-edged sword for local residents. On the one hand, tourism drives the economy, on the other hand, uncontrolled tourism disrupts life.

Our islands are a treasure that must be preserved.

In 2023, the Canary Islands will receive 16 million visitors. This number is seven times more than its population, which is only around 2.2 million people.

Victor Martin, spokesperson of Canaries Sold Out, referred to it as a "suicidal growth model". The high number of tourists will lead to unsustainable growth considering the limited natural resources.

AFP/DESIREE MARTIN

Tourism-related protests in Tenerife, Spain, April 13, 2024.

Not only in the Canary Islands, similar anti-tourism movements are also emerging in other popular tourist destinations in Spain. In the southern port of Malaga, located in Costa del Sol, for example, protests have arisen in the form of unfriendly tourist stickers. These stickers are stuck on hotel walls, cafes, or other tourist accommodations.

It said, among other things, "This used to be my house" and "Tourists, go home." In fact, Costa del Sol was an early pioneer of tourism model of soy y playa or sun and beach in Spain. This port city has hosted millions of tourists for decades.

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In Barcelona and the Balearic Islands, anti-tourism activists have taken a unique approach. They have erected fake warnings on popular beaches there.

False English-language warnings include "beware of falling rocks" or "beware of dangerous jellyfish." Of course, the intention is to make tourists afraid or at least uncomfortable.

AFP/DESIREE MARTIN

A protest sign is seen next to the tent of activists who are fasting in protest of the massive tourism infrastructure development in La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain, on April 13, 2024.

The term overtourism or excessive tourism, according to the article on the page United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), reflects the challenges of managing growing tourism flows and the impact of tourism on cities and their citizens. This term is increasingly widespread and appears in many places throughout the world.

In 2019, anger due to the explosive growth of tourism was high. The UNWTO even issued a call for "such growth to be managed responsibly in order to bring the best benefits to the community."

The World Economic Forum page states that excessive tourism is evident in cities like Barcelona, ​​giving rise to anti-tourism sentiment. Similar frustrations arise in other well-known cities, such as Amsterdam, Venice, London, Kyoto and Dubrovnik. Locations such as Hawaii and Greece, beaches in Spain, national parks in the United States and Africa, as well as places rarely explored before are experiencing a tourism boom.

CNN released a report in 2023 containing the worst tourist destinations due to excessive tourism. Among them are Amsterdam (Netherland), Athens (Greece), Bali (Indonesia), Barcelona (Spain), Miami (US), Paris (France), and Phuket (Thailand).

AP PHOTO/ADAM SCHRECK

Surfers carry surfboards at sunset at Kata Beach, Phuket, Thailand, May 26, 2019.

People's suffering

Local residents have grown tired of uncontrolled tourism in Spain. The cost of living has become increasingly expensive due to the abundance of places being rented out or sold for tourism. They also complain about the noise pollution and environmental damage, particularly to water reserves.

In the peak of the dry season in the northeast region of Catalonia last February, residents were angry at the hotels in Costa Brava. Tourism was said to be depleting the increasingly limited clean water reserves. The local government even announced a drought emergency.

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The protest movement against the explosion of tourism has actually been around for a long time in Spain. In Barcelona, protests have even been taking place since before the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. The pandemic caused the global travel industry to slump.

This year, the tourism sector is experiencing a resurgence. Spain has become the second most visited country in the world. Last year, Spain received 85.1 million foreign visitors. This number is the highest compared to previous years.

KOMPAS/MADINA NUSRAT

The Gothic Square area, Barcelona City, Spain, Friday (29/2/2019), was crowded with tourists.

Spain's tourism sector is expected to reach its highest revenue in history by 2024, amounting to 202.65 billion euros. The tourism sector contributes 12.8 percent as one of the country's economic sources.

The government and authorities are trying to find a balance between the interests of local residents and the tourism sector which is economically beneficial.

"Our focus is on continuously developing sustainable tourism in Spain that does not cause social impact," said Vice President of Exceltur Tourism Association Jose Luis Zoreda.

AP PHOTO/PAUL WHITE

A woman queues outside the opera building, shielding herself from the sunlight amidst the hot weather in Madrid, Spain, on July 16, 2022.

Several cities in Spain have attempted to limit tourism. For example, the coastal city of San Sebastian in the north recently began limiting the number of tourist groups in the city center to 25 people. The city government also banned the use of sound amplifiers during guided tours.

Seville, a city in the southern part, is also considering an entrance fee for tourists who want to visit Plaza de Espana, one of the tourist centers. Barcelona has removed a popular bus route among tourists from Google Maps. This policy is intended to give ample space for local residents.

Spanish Housing Minister Isabel Rodriguez stated that actions need to be taken to limit the number of apartments and tourist accommodations. However, she also emphasized that the government is aware of the importance of the tourism sector for their economy. (AFP)