The Canary Islands have been experiencing a surge in protests lately. Local residents are increasingly frustrated with the overwhelming tourism influx to the sunny Spanish archipelago, citing outdated regulations that favor property speculators buying land for hotels and holiday residences with minimal tax obligations.
As a result, Canarians claim to have the lowest average salaries in Spain and struggle to find affordable housing. In addition to these challenges, they are now voicing concerns about coastal erosion, which is rapidly threatening the Canary Islands’ shorelines. Advocates warn that the coastline is facing a looming crisis.
According to a report by SOS Costas Canarias, approximately 21⁄2 miles of coastline vanish each year. Anne Striewe, the foundation’s director, points out that various structures like hotels, apartment complexes, and marinas are being built on this disappearing coastal land.
The organization highlights that nearly 18% of the territory within the first 500 meters from the sea across the eight islands has already been developed. This figure escalates beyond protected natural areas, exceeding 40% in several locations, with rates reaching 43% in Lanzarote and Gran Canaria.
Tourism accounts for almost 20% of the living space in the Canary Islands, significantly higher than the approximately 4% on the Spanish mainland. In five municipalities on the islands, including Yaiza, Pájara, Mogán, San Bartolomé de Tirajana, and Adeje, there are more tourist beds than permanent residents.
Ms. Striewe emphasizes that besides holiday accommodations, there is a plethora of tourist-related infrastructure like golf courses and desalination plants that contribute to the problem but are not reflected in hotel occupancy statistics.
Sharon Backhouse, director of GeoTenerife, describes the Canary Islands as a biodiversity treasure in the Atlantic but criticizes the lack of adequate protection for the islands’ natural habitats. She warns that beautiful landscapes are continuously being sacrificed for new tourist developments.
Carmelo Javier León, director of the UNESCO Chair in Tourism and Sustainable Economic Development at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, points out the conflict between preserving the islands’ natural beauty and the increasing demand for more accommodation options.
The authors of the SOS Costas Canarias report demand an immediate stop to construction and the revocation of planning permissions for undeveloped coastal areas. They argue that rampant construction not only destroys irreplaceable natural habitats and compromises the scenic appeal that drew tourists initially but also heightens the risk of local flooding, putting around 80,000 residents in danger.
Irma Ferrer, a lawyer specializing in Urban Planning Transparency and Civic Action Against Corruption, criticizes the failure of institutions to address urban planning and environmental issues in the public interest. She laments that the islands’ economy is now heavily reliant on land destruction and speculation.
