The eight islands of the Archipelago have come together around an initiative promoted by various environmental and social organizations in rejection of the current tourism model. Under the slogan “Canary Islands have a limit,” a demonstration was called for the upcoming Saturday, 20th of April. This protest will not only take place in the archipelago but also in cities like Granada, Barcelona, Madrid, Malaga, Berlin, and London, where Canarians living far from the islands have wanted to join to show their support.
The organizers hope that these actions will be a turning point that motivates political leaders to stop the current tourism model. They are calling for an immediate tourism moratorium in the Canary Islands to halt the creation of new accommodation spaces, as well as effective regulation of the housing market to ensure access to this basic right. This would include measures such as controlling vacation rentals and restricting property purchases by non-residents. Additionally, they propose the implementation of a tourist eco-tax, with revenues allocated to the care of natural spaces or the creation of green jobs.
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This is how our graphic humorist, Padylla, has portrayed the 20th of April today. With a group of Canarians protesting, stating they are not “tourismphobic”
Padylla’s depiction of today’s 20th of April / Padylla
The demonstration called for this Saturday, 20th of April, in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, named Canary Islands have a limit, For a change of model!, which will start from Weyler Square at 12:00, will cause traffic and mobility modifications in the city. The same will happen on Sunday, the 21st of April, but due to the celebration of the Solidarity Run of the National Police
Fernando Clavijo, before participating in the forum ‘Canary Islands towards the future,’ has acknowledged that after a long time, a social movement has emerged that demands changes.
The president has expressed his wish that “everything goes well,” although he indicated that tomorrow will not mark “a before and after,” and he listed some of the measures taken by his government, such as the access to housing decree, the vacation rental law, the conference of council presidents scheduled for the 30th of April, and the request for wage increases from tourism entrepreneurs.
All of this has been done before the demonstration, Clavijo pointed out, mentioning that although it is important as a “social movement,” there will not be “a before and after,” he emphasized.
The organizers of the demonstration have posted instructions on their social media to organize based on the groups participating in the Saturday mobilizations
The demonstration called for this Saturday, April 20, in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, named Canary Islands has a limit For a model change! , which will start from Weyler Square at 12:00, will cause modifications in the traffic and mobility of the city. The same will happen on Sunday, April 21, but on the occasion of the celebration of the Solidarity Race of the National Police. It will start at 11:00 and will take place from Puerto-Ciudada esplanade, in front of Spain Square
Closures in Central Santa Cruz
The meeting point in Tenerife will be at Weyler Square at 12:00. The route will go through the streets Méndez Núñez, El Pilar, Valentín Sanz, Castillo, until La Candelaria Square where it will end at the doors of the Insular Council.
The route will cause the closure of several streets to traffic. The Local Police informs that there will be traffic cuts and diversions “well before” the start time, presumably from 10:30, “due to the concentration of people at the starting point”. Also, there will be restrictions on traffic flow on the streets where the demonstration will pass through, which “will be opened gradually, depending on the turnout, when safety allows.” The demonstration will go through Weyler Square, Méndez Núñez, El Pilar, Valentín Sanz, Castillo, La Candelaria Square and Council.
Tram Closures
The service of the Tenerife Tram will be affected by the demonstration that will pass through this Saturday, April 20 the main streets of Santa Cruz called throughout Canary Islands in defense of the Archipelago against excessive exploitation of the tourism sector.
Although the planned route does not coincide with the tram line in the city centre, it is expected to interfere with the normal operation of the service. The start of the march is scheduled in Weyler Square, an area that could attract thousands of people before the demonstration begins.
In view of this situation and to avoid risks to the public and passengers, Metropolitano de Tenerife has chosen to interrupt the service at that stop and the subsequent ones, with tram line 1 only operating between Trinidad and La Paz from eleven in the morning.
Titsa reported that from 11:00 onwards and until the end of the demonstration, lines 902, 904, 905, 912 and 914 will be affected.
The stops at Weyler, Military Square, Captaincy, García Sanabria Park, Méndez Núñez, El Pilar, Príncipe Square, Villalba Hervás, Alameda, Isabel II Square, La Marina, 25 de Julio, Buenos Aires, Manuel Hermoso Rojas, José Emilio García Gómez, La Salle and La Salle School will be temporarily out of service.
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Live
Our graphic humorist, Padylla, has captured today’s April 20th session. Showing a group of Canarians protesting, saying they are not “tourism-phobic.”
Padylla’s snapshot from this 20th of April / Padylla
The demonstration scheduled for this Saturday, 20th April, in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, named Canarias has a limit! For a change of model!, which will start from Plaza Weyler at 12:00, will cause changes in traffic and city mobility. The same will happen on Sunday, 21st April, but because of the celebration of the Solidarity Race of the National Police. It will start at 11:00 and will be held from the Puerto-Ciudad esplanade, in front of Plaza de España
Before participating in the ‘Canarias towards the future’ forum, Fernando Clavijo valued the fact that a social movement has emerged that demands changes after a long time.
The president hoped that “everything goes well”, although he indicated that tomorrow will not mean “a before and after” and listed some of the measures taken by his government, such as the access to housing decree, the vacation rental law, the conference of island presidents on 30th April, and the request for salary increases to tourist entrepreneurs.
All this has been done before the demonstration, Clavijo pointed out, who stated that although it is important as a “social movement”, there will not be “a before and after”, he reiterated.
The organizers of the demonstration have posted on their social networks instructions to organize according to the groups participating in the mobilizations this Saturday
The demonstration scheduled for this Saturday, 20th April, in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, named Canarias has a limit! For a change of model! , which will start from the Plaza Weyler at 12:00, will cause changes in traffic and city mobility. The same will happen on Sunday, 21st April, but because of the celebration of the Solidarity Race of the National Police. It will start at 11:00 and will be held from the Puerto-Ciudad esplanade, in front of Plaza de España
Routes
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- Tenerife: Plaza Weyler (12.00 hours ). Santa Cruz de Tenerife: Will start at Plaza Weyler, pass through the streets Méndez Núñez, El Pilar, Valentín Sanz, Calle Castillo, up to La Candelaria square where it will end at the doors of the Insular Council.
- Grand Canary: Auditorio Alfredo Kraus (12.00 hrs). In Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the gathering will take place at the Auditorium, then the route will go along Las Canteras promenade towards Churruca street. It will then continue towards Mesa y López Avenue until turning down Lepanto street to reach the final point: Plaza del Pilar.
- Lanzarote: Music Kiosk of José Ramírez Cerdá Park, in Arrecife (12.00 pm). The route will start from the Music Kiosk, go through Mancomunidad Avenue until Lancelot hotel, then through Manolo Millares street, Guenia street, and end by coming down Avenida Fred Olsen to reach the Cabildo.
- La Graciosa: Gathering at the dock esplanade (12.00 hours)
- Fuerteventura: Puerto del Rosario (12.00). The protest will take place on Primero de Mayo street in front of the Government Delegation.
- La Gomera: Plaza de las Américas in San Sebastián de La Gomera (12.00 pm).
- El Hierro: Tourism Department (12.00 pm) Doctor Quintero street, Valverde.
- La Palma: (17.00 hours) Market square, in Puntagorda, during the Foresta Rock event where a manifesto will be read.
- Tenerife: Plaza Weyler (12.00 hours ). Santa Cruz de Tenerife: Will start at Plaza Weyler, pass through the streets Méndez Núñez, El Pilar, Valentín Sanz, Calle Castillo, up to La Candelaria square where it will end at the doors of the Insular Council.
Our cartoonist, Padylla, depicts today’s 20th of April with a group of Canarians protesting and stating they are not “tourism-phobic”
Padylla’s vignette from this 20th of April / Padylla
The protest scheduled for this Saturday, 20th of April, in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, named Canary Islands has a limit! For a change of model!, will start from Weyler Square at 12:00 noon, causing changes in the city’s traffic and mobility. The same will occur on Sunday, 21st of April, due to the celebration of the National Police Solidarity Race. It will start at 11:00 a.m. from the Puerto-Ciudad esplanade, in front of Spain Square.
Before participating in the forum ‘Canary Islands towards the future’, Fernando Clavijo valued the emergence of a social movement after a long time that calls for changes.
The president expressed hopes that “everything goes well”, although he mentioned that tomorrow will not mean “a before and after” and listed some measures taken by his government, such as the housing access decree, the vacation rental law, the Presidents of Cabildos conference on the 30th of April, and the request for pay rises to tourism entrepreneurs.
All of this has been done before the demonstration, stated Clavijo, pointing out that although it is significant as a “social movement”, it will not lead to “a before and after”, he reiterated.
The organizers of the protest have posted instructions on their social media to arrange according to the groups participating in this Saturday’s mobilizations.
The demonstration called for this Saturday, April 20, in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, named Canary Islands has a limit For a change of model!, which will start from Weyler square at 12:00 o’clock, will cause traffic and city mobility modifications. The same will happen on Sunday, April 21, but due to the celebration of the Solidarity Race of the National Police. This will start at 11:00 o’clock and will take place from the Puerto-Ciudada esplanade, in front of the Plaza de España
What we told you yesterday about the tram is now official. The Tenerife Metropolitan has confirmed that this Saturday it will end at the La Paz stop
The Canary Islands’ President, Fernando Clavijo, has indicated regarding the activists of ‘Canarias Se Agota’ on hunger strike in La Laguna (Tenerife) to demand the suspension of Cuna del Alma and the Tejita hotel, as well as a tourist moratorium, that while he respects personal decisions, he does not agree with attempts to “extort.”
“I respect personal decisions, but I do not agree with the methods, nor do I agree with any attempt to extort any government,” he pointed out in statements to journalists before participating in an event in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
In this regard, Clavijo has defended that the government he leads has worked from “day one” to “try to improve” things and as an example cited the decree on housing emergency, energy emergency, unaccompanied minors, water because upon reaching the regional Executive, he stated, they found a “completely chaotic” situation.
The trade unions that make up the Canary Islands Trade Union Federation have reported on Thursday that they will support the protest on April 20 because “Canary Islands can’t take it anymore” with “tourist exploitation as an economic monoculture model.”
The unions, in a statement, have considered that the Canary Islands have been enduring a “permanent plunder” of its natural environment and constant exploitation of workers since the early sixties.
“We have been denouncing this situation for years, we have been saying that if this colonial exploitation model was not regulated, the system would collapse,” the unions emphasized, believing that April 20 is “an immense opportunity” to show on the streets “that this must be stopped” and demand that those responsible must pay for it.
They have also warned that for years “of territory predation,” speculators have transformed natural heritage into financial heritage and this has been “conveniently accompanied, allowed and encouraged” by different governments.
“On April 20, no one should be left behind, we may be witnessing the structuring of an important movement that is finally capable of stopping speculation and excessive exploitation,” they added.
The Hotel and Extrahotel Association of Tenerife, La Palma, La Gomera, and El Hierro, Ashotel has asked through a statement for promptness from the Canary Islands Federation of Municipalities (Fecam) to address a meeting requested over two months ago based on a survey conducted by the hotel industry about housing needs in tourist areas, especially in Tenerife.
This ASHOTEL statement comes a few days before the planned demonstrations in the eight Canary Islands for called Canary Islands has a limit For a change of model! and aims to be “the biggest in history”.
An ambulance unit attended for the first time on Tuesday night since the hunger strike initiated by ‘Canarias Se Agota’, to assist one of the camps due to suffering from severe hypoglycemia after going six days without eating .
