A protest staged in Tenerife against the current developmental model described as “historic”: “The Canary Islands have reached their limit”


A demonstration has been organized in Tenerife by up to fifteen civic and environmental groups to express their opposition to the prevailing development model on the island, which they argue is leading to its saturation.

The organizers currently include ATAN, Salvar La Tejita, Salvar Tenerife, Fundación Telesforo Bravo-Juan Coello, Salvar El Puertito, Tabona, Plataforma Los Silos-Isla Baja, Asociación Abeque, Red Asirem, Coordinadora El Rincón, Rebellion Cientifica and ADC- Assembly in Defense of Our Land (ADNT).

The protest is scheduled for Saturday, 20th April at 12:00 p.m. and will commence from Plaza Weyler in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

Organized under the banner The Canary Islands have a limit. Time for a change of model!, the groups will be advocating for better preservation of the natural areas of the Canary Islands and the introduction of an ecotax or tourist levy, a freeze on tourism and vacations, and the regulation of property purchases by non-natives.

The aim of the march is to make it the “largest demonstration in the history of Tenerife.”

Cradle of the Soul, the final straw

Over the last two years, these groups have previously organized two other demonstrations which garnered significant participation in the island’s capital. The tipping point that spurred these actions was the Cuna del Alma tourism project in Puertito de Adeje, a luxury development featuring a hotel, restaurants, and over 400 villas in a pristine area in the south of the island. These works faced two suspension orders and two sanction files for various infractions, including the destruction of a significant archaeological site and endangering a protected plant species, the rare viborina, which cannot be relocated according to existing legislation.

However, following the change in Government in the Canary Islands and the appointment of Mariano Zapata (PP) as the new Minister of Ecological Transition, the Canary Islands Agency for the Protection of the Natural Environment dropped the sanction file for commencing the works without an environmental impact assessment and lifted the work suspension that had been in place since the end of 2022.

A similar situation arose with the La Tejita hotel, where construction works resumed last week after being halted in 2021 due to encroachment on the maritime-terrestrial public domain, despite Coastal authorities confirming the lack of permission to build on public land. A protest took place near the construction site a few days later.

The racing track, a venture valued at over 50 million euros, is also among those that have faced opposition from advocates of a more sustainable approach to the island’s development, one that respects the environment, its natural beauty, and its flora and fauna. Similarly, the Fonsalía port projects face similar scrutiny as they are aimed at boosting tourism but come with high environmental and financial costs.

Pressing Issues in Water, Energy, and Housing amidst the Pursuit of More Tourism

In addition to these contentious projects, we have seen a recent announcement of a water emergency in Tenerife, affecting three municipalities (none of which are tourist-centric) with water usage restrictions. This is coupled with an energy crisis in the Canary Islands and a housing shortage, leading to the region having the second lowest average salaries in the country and the second-highest rates of poverty and social exclusion. These challenges are exacerbated by a surge in tourist arrivals in 2023, with more than 14 million visitors, and even higher projections for 2024.

Moreover, the population of the Canary Islands continues to rise and has surpassed 2.2 million residents. The population growth in the archipelago far exceeds the national average, with a 60% increase since gaining autonomy in 1982. The aftermath of the pandemic has seen a rise in digital nomads settling in the region, along with a surge in holiday rental accommodations. However, this has led to skyrocketing housing prices and an increase in makeshift settlements like caravans, along with mass evictions such as the recent incident in Arona involving the displacement of 90 families (over 200 individuals).


Particularly on Tenerife, the most populous island, scenes of congestion have become a common sight on its roads, beaches, and iconic yet delicate landscapes like the Teide National Park, the Teno Park, and the Rural Park of Anaga. This past weekend, these areas experienced a significant influx of tourists leading to severe congestion, prompting local residents to threaten road closures to prevent tourist bus access.


Adding to the complexity are the growing instances of tourists violating regulations in protected areas, a trend that is becoming more frequent.

A Controversial Port amidst a Sanctuary for Whales

The proposed port was slated to be constructed in a stretch of water flanked by the sole whale sanctuary in the European Union and the third globally, renowned for its diverse marine life, including various cetacean species and other fauna in the Teno-Rasca corridor along Tenerife’s west coast. The proposal entailed a port-island layout featuring five berthing lines for large vessels, a fishery dock, 200 dry dock spaces, and 467 pontoon spaces for sports vessels within a coastal area spanning over 222,000 square meters. The initial plan involved a public investment of 200 million euros, with the project’s inception dating back 25 years.

However, the entire maritime zone from Teno in the north to Rasca in the south is designated as a Special Conservation Area (ZEC) under the European Union’s Habitats Directive due to its “critical” populations of species such as the bottlenose dolphin and the Loggerhead sea turtle. In January 2021, the World Cetacean Alliance, headquartered in the UK, acknowledged the region spanning from the southwest coast of Teide to La Gomera. as a haven for Whales, owing to the presence of a distinct resident population of around 200 pilot whales, unique globally.

This project was put on hold during the previous legislative term in the regional Parliament; however, the President of La Gomera’s Cabildo, Casimiro Curbelo, reiterated in the Canary Islands Parliament on Tuesday the necessity of constructing it to enhance connectivity between La Gomera and Tenerife. It is noteworthy that the major port of Granadilla is located a few kilometers away, inaugurated in 2018 and virtually inactive since.