Who wishes to engage in tourism where the locals endure your presence? This is the question posed by the esteemed Fodor’s Travel Guide, which suggests that visiting one of these locations seldom brings joy to travellers. This esteemed American publication, boasting over 700 researchers globally, has included the Canary Islands among the destinations that potential visitors ought to reconsider for their trips this year. What is the cause? The unrest that has been escalating among certain residents against mass tourism. This discontent manifested itself in two protests that filled the streets of the Archipelago on April 20 and again in October, with slogans such as “The Canary Islands have a limit” or “Your luxury, our misery.”
However, the Islands are not the only ones featured. The list comprises other Spanish locations such as Mallorca and Barcelona, where large demonstrations took place, and some tourists have even faced reprimands, being sprayed with water guns when caught unaware.
The guide describes this change in attitude as “radical,” given that, akin to other destinations that have experienced restrictions, the Archipelago has been running marketing campaigns for years to attract increasing numbers of visitors. In fact, without official data for December, the Canary Islands concluded 2024 with a new record in tourist arrivals. During the first eleven months of the year, the number surpassed 16 million – comprising both nationals and foreigners – with estimates suggesting the final tally could reach 18 million.
This significant influx has been felt not only in the Archipelago but across nearly all of Europe, as the number of visitors was 7.2% above pre-pandemic levels. As highlighted by the Fodor’s Guide, this surge is causing congestion in cities and disrupting the social fabric due to rising living costs and overloaded infrastructure and natural areas. These were precisely some of the grievances expressed during last year’s protests. “In response to what now appears to be an existential threat, locals are directing their frustrations towards the throngs of tourists,” the guide remarks about the European destinations listed. Although it stresses a stance against boycotting these places, it acknowledges that their inclusion is a first step in recognising them as destinations “where tourism exerts unsustainable pressures on the land and local communities.” These pressures, it insists, must be addressed, though so far, they have not impacted the volume of traveller arrivals.
Nonetheless, these grievances against mass tourism, while prompting a reassessment of the model, also impact the reputation and image of a sector that supports a significant portion of families in the Canary Islands. This is not the first instance in which the Archipelago has been called out for its antipathy towards tourists. The multinational corporation specialising in market research and analysis, YouGov, has corroborated how the protests on April 20 – the initial demonstration – led to immediate repercussions. One consequence was the surge in negative media coverage, essentially generating disparaging messages, news, and information, which has resulted in a decline in the Islands’ esteem as a destination.
The Ministry of Tourism opted not to comment on the repercussions following the Archipelago’s inclusion on the prestigious American guide’s blacklist. The damage to their reputation comes at a rather inopportune time, as the International Tourism Fair (Fitur) begins next Wednesday, where the Canary Islands must endeavour to secure new contracts and attract companies to continue bolstering a sector that is vital to the Archipelago’s economy.
Canarian airports conclude the year with a new record
The airports in the Canary Islands have achieved a new passenger record. The airfields ended 2024 with nearly 53 million passengers, a historic figure achieved due to the post-pandemic tourist surge, which has brought in visitors like never before observed. Specifically, the airports concluded the year with passenger traffic of 52.8 million, marking a 9% increase compared to 2023, and with 471,248 operations, up by 7.3%. Although these figures are impressive, they also highlight the growing shortcomings within the airport infrastructure in the Archipelago, as reported by this publication. These deficits mean that congestion has increased at these facilities, with some nearing their maximum capacity.
Of the 52.8 million passengers who travelled through one of the airports, 21.5 million were of national origin or destination, representing an 8.7% increase, while the remaining 30.9 million were linked to flights originating from abroad. This latter figure denotes a 9.7% rise. Furthermore, 33,284 tonnes of merchandise were transported, an additional 8.4%.
Passenger increases are being seen across the board. Tenerife South recorded the greatest surge at 11.4% and ranks second in passenger volume. Gran Canaria also rose by 9% and was the aerodrome with the highest number of users, exceeding 15 million. Lanzarote achieved 8.7 million, placing it in third position, followed by Tenerife North, which logged 6.7 million. Fuerteventura also surpassed six million, whilst La Palma approached 1.5 million. El Hierro remained at 322,000 passengers and La Gomera at 120,707.
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