19 Apr, 2024 - 11:00 AM

Stakeholder comment – Villarroya: “Let’s not play with the hand that feeds us”

Newspaper article

Stakeholder comment

The general manager of Spring Hotels, Miguel Villarroya Adell,  is concerned about the image that the demonstrations planned for the 20th of April will convey to tourists considering the economic dependence on the sector.  Villarroya suggests that the symptoms felt by the public are due to a lack of legislative control on the housing market and a lack of investment in infrastructure but also comments that demonstrating against the tourism model will not address these issues; “Let’s discuss the tourism model, there are solutions to put on the table, but let’s not play with the hand that feeds us.”

(El Diario, 2024)

The general manager of Spring Hotels and president of El Mojón (Diario de Avisos)
20 Apr, 2024 - 2:00 PM

20A demonstrations

On the 20th of April 2024, an unprecedented number of  Canarian people took to the streets demonstrating against the unsustainable nature of the tourism model in the Canary Islands. One of the examples of the concerns felt by the residents is the Cuna del Alma project, which represents the last non-tourist area in the South of Tenerife.

Construction work on the Cuna del Alma resort continues whilst ten people are on hunger strike, demonstrating in support of a more sustainable tourism model in the Canary Islands. One of the more immediate demands of the protests on the 20th of April was the suspension of work on the  Cuna del Alma project. In the weeks after the 20A demonstration protestors would block access to the site to prevent further “illegal” construction.

20 Apr, 2024 - 2:00 PM

Felipe Ravina calls out the present of Tenerife Cabildo for inaction

Social media

“It is very sad that @rosa_davilamamely has not spoken out publicly about this scandal, being the highest authority on the island.

Although she does not have the powers to stop the works, if she had acted differently, the works could not have been resumed.

The competences to manipulate protected species, such as the cardones, have always belonged to the Cabildo, but the Cabildo has passed these competences to the Ayuntamiento of Adeje (the first time in history that this has happened). If they really wanted to act, they would reclaim those powers and not grant permission to manipulate protected species. Without that permission, the project could not be carried out. But no, because there is no interest in protecting El Puertito on the part of the Cabildo of Tenerife.

And knowing first hand the incalculable value of this area, the fact that the president has not made the slightest effort to prevent all this destruction is very disappointing.” @Felipe-Ravina

Cuna del Alma

20 Apr, 2024 - 9:00 PM

Demonstration – Thousands attend the 20A demonstration

News article

Demonstration

“Thousands of Canary Islanders assembled on Saturday in Tenerife as well as in other islands of the archipelago to protest against mass tourism. Demonstrations have taken place today across the islands in Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and La Palma under the banner “The Canaries have a limit”.  According to the organisers, 120,000 people are believed to have gathered in the city to take part in the march. Activists say the huge influx in tourist numbers is inflicting irreparable damage to the environment and is leading to poverty among the islanders due to low pay and rising property prices.”

(Express, 2024)

Thousands took part in the protest in Tenerife (Jonathan Buckmaster)
21 Apr, 2024 - 3:26 PM

Canarian activists protest against tourism model in Madrid

Newspaper article

demonstration

Canarian activists protest against tourism model in Madrid

A group of Canarian activists demonstrated in Madrid against the current tourism model in the Canary Islands. They criticized the negative impacts of mass tourism on the environment and local communities, calling for sustainable alternatives and better regulation to protect the archipelago’s natural resources and residents’ quality of life.

Activistas canarios protestan contra el modelo turístico en Madrid

Un grupo de activistas canarios se manifestó en Madrid contra el actual modelo turístico en las Islas Canarias. Criticaron los impactos negativos del turismo masivo en el medio ambiente y las comunidades locales, haciendo un llamado a alternativas sostenibles y una mejor regulación para proteger los recursos naturales del archipiélago y la calidad de vida de sus residentes.

(el Diario, 2024)

Masses Support Protests in the Canary Islands Over Mass Tourism (Efe / Alberto Valdés, 2024)

02 May, 2024 - 10:00 AM

La Tejita – Mayor of Granadilla will not attend meeting with Clavijo

Newspaper article

La Tejita

“The mayor of Granadilla de Abona, Jennifer Miranda (PSOE), announced this Thursday that she will not attend the meeting called for this Friday by the president of the Government of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo (Canary Coalition), to which the first mayor of Adeje, also a socialist José Miguel Rodríguez Fraga. Miranda explained in a press conference that the decision was made based on the statements of Clavijo and several members of the regional executive regarding the refusal to acquire the plot on which the La Tejita hotel is being built”

El Diario (2024)

Status of the construction of the La Tejita hotel, in March (Álvaro Morales)