FUMING locals have slammed selfish holidaymakers in Tenerife for turning their paradise into a ‘tourism ghetto’.
An influx of “ignorant” visitors has sparked outrage among Canary islands residents, as costs soar and drunken partygoers keep them up all night.
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The Covid pandemic saw a boost in tourists arriving to the popular destination, and now locals are revolting in the wake of skyrocketing rent prices and overburdened services.
Some took to the streets with spray paint to sprawl bitter messages outside tourism hotspots which read “your paradise, our misery” and “tourists go home”.
Josua Garcia-Garcia is up in arms about the ongoing ordeal and told the MailOnline it is a “nightmare” when holidaymakers take over the island.
“I only get four hours of sleep every night because of the music and noise, which keeps me up until three in the morning,” explained the 33-year-old bar worker.
The frustrated local called for “stricter rules” to be enforced on “ignorant” tourists to prevent residents from more “suffering”.
“Rents are soaring and people on average salaries cannot afford to live here any more, once they pay their rent they have no money for food,” he continued.
Right now you get stuck for two hours on the main road.”
Doctor Matías González Hernández
It comes as more AirBnBs crop up across the island, driving residents out, with less properties on the market.
In turn, the price tag on remaining homes is becoming too expensive for those who want to stay.
And, Tenerife is not the only holiday destination struggling with this issue.
Locals in UK coastal resorts such as Devon and Cornwall have also blasted greedy tourists for snapping up second homes.
The issue worsened amid Covid as more Brits chose staycations over travelling abroad.
‘Can’t afford to rent or buy a house’
Last year, Canary Island residents held a protest against the arrival of more holidaymakers.
In what has been dubbed ‘tourismphobia’, they marched the streets holding banners which read “the Canaries are no longer a paradise” and “the Canaries are not for sale”.
Doctor Matías González Hernández, an academic at Las Palmas University, claimed locals faced homelessness.
He said they “can’t afford to rent or buy a house” due to rising inflation and rent prices.
More graffiti in the popular town of Las Palmas reflect this, and read “average salary in Canary Islands is 1,200,” which equates to £1,000.
The academic called on their government for better infrastructure to accommodate growing demands – such as improving roads.
“Right now you get stuck for two hours on the main road,” he said.
Resources under pressure
As reported by the Express, Tenerife Cabildo also declared a water emergency last week, with some tourism hotspot using six times more water than residential areas.
This means more pressure is put on vital drinking and farming water resources across the island.
But, The Canary Islands Tourism Board denied there has been an influx of tourists and claimed figures are the same with pre-pandemic levels.
A spokesperson for the Board told the Mirror: “The influx of tourists is very stable throughout the year, with hardly any seasonality.
“This means the presence of 312,216 tourists in the Canary Islands daily, so the pressure on the territory and its resources and the local population is much less than in other destinations that concentrate the arrival of tourists in specific periods of the year.”
And, another professor at Las Palmas University claimed “most of the population” still welcomes tourism.
He told the Mirror: “The great majority understand it adds value to them, in terms of the flow of culture, the cultural value of tourists from Germany, Sweden, Britain. People are very happy with the British coming to the Canary Islands.”
‘Greedy outsiders’
It comes as other holiday destinations have slammed tourists for ruining their home.
Disgruntled locals along the beautiful north Norfolk coast have voiced support for a unbroken 30-mile “wall” in a bid to stop the influx of unwelcome visitors.
Meanwhile, residents living in Anglesey, North Wales, say their lives are being plagued by inconsiderate visitors and ‘greedy’ outsiders snapping up second homes.
Elsewhere in the UK, homeowners of Staithes. the northernmost village in Yorkshire, are frustrated with holiday lets.
And, in Padstow, North Cornwall, glorious golden beaches and picturesque countryside are a hit with tourists – but now its popularity is wreaking havoc with residents.
Read more on the Scottish Sun
TOURIST TRAP
A rising number of visitors in idyllic holiday hotspots is forcing out locals.
- Important amenities such as post offices and village shops are being disposed of to make way for more houses and cafes for tourists.
- Locals are also struggling to climb on the property ladder as many houses sit empty, being used as second homes and holiday lets.
- In some hotspots this has created a major housing crisis as demand for accommodation and second homes drives house prices sky high.
- Road infrastructure and parking systems often can’t cope with more tourists – leading to traffic chaos and safety concerns.
- The issues see younger families leaving the area, in turn making it harder for community members left behind.
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