“Demonstrations against mass tourism on Spain’s Canary Islands have prompted European travel giant TUI to invest in housing for its staff rather than hotels, the company said on Wednesday, while trying to play down the size of the protests. “We have offered to build housing for employees and others. We have proactively addressed the issue” “
TUI offers staff housing
The opening bell is displayed as TUI returns to the stock exchange in Frankfurt, Germany April 8, 2024 (REUTERS, Kai Pfaffenbach)
Cost of Living – Costa Meloneras workers protest unpaid overtime hours
“Workers at the Costa Meloneras hotel, belonging to the Lopesan chain , gathered this Monday in front of the establishment in Maspalomas to protest against working conditions. Although a demonstration had initially been scheduled, the event was reduced to an employee meeting after meetings were agreed between the company and union representatives.The main complaints include the non-payment of more than 1,000 hours of overtime to housekeepers and the demand that sales commissions be extended to all employees.”
Eustasio Lopez-Lopesan, who owns the Lopesan hotel chain, Diario de Avisos (2024)
Political comment – La Palma’s President is committed to sustainable tourism
The president of the Cabildo of La Palma, Sergio Rodriguez, has confirmed La Palma’s commitment to sustainable tourist development whilst also preventing La Palma’s tourism evolving into the situation experienced in the eastern and capital islands. Rodriguez stresses that “We don’t even want to hear the word moratorium” as La Palma can not accept similar measures to the other islands whilst their economy is still recovering post-2021 eruption.
Sergio Rodríguez, president of La Palma Cabildo (El Dia)
Tourists – Easyjet announces a new route to the Canary Islands
“EasyJet has announced the opening of its tenth base in the UK, at London Southend Airport, scheduled to be in operation from March 2025. This new base will feature three Airbus A320neo aircraft and introduce six new routes, including a highly anticipated service to Gran Canaria.”
Easyjet plane (Canarian weekly)
Ecological damage – Canary islands ecological deficit
“From today Spain enters into an ‘ecological deficit’. This means that society and all its economic sectors have consumed the natural resources that were due to it for 2024. In the case of #Canarias we had already consumed them at the beginning of the year.”
#Ecología | Desde hoy España entra en 'déficit ecológico'. Esto es que la sociedad y todos sus sectores económicos han consumido los recursos naturales que le correspondían para este 2024
— Televisión Canaria Noticias (@RTVCCanarias) May 20, 2024
En el caso de #Canarias ya los habíamos consumido recién empezado el año#Tn1Canarias pic.twitter.com/hrDl2aM2TL
Adriana Espinosa González from the Friends of the Earth association discusses the resource use of the Canary Islands.
Pilot project for staff shuttle bus
“The initiative studies the feasibility of consolidating different public transport lines, in the form of shuttle buses, that complement public transport from the main residential centers in the south.The Hotel and Non-Hotel Association of Tenerife, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro (Ashotel) has launched a “smart mobility” pilot project to transport staff to their jobs in nine hotels in Costa Adeje, in the south from Tenerife.”
