Record tourist numbers to the Canary Islands in 2025 met with a wave of local discontent

Tourist arrivals to the Canary Islands grew by 2.1% in the first quarter of 2025. According to official statistics, the Atlantic archipelago welcomed a record 4.36 million foreign tourists between January and April. In March alone, arrivals exceeded 1.55 million people. The main market is the UK, accounting for more than 40% of foreign visitors. Tenerife is the most popular island, followed by Gran Canaria.

Despite mass protests by local residents against excessive tourist flows, tourism revenue continues to grow. According to Canarian Weekly, tourist spending reached a record €6.86 billion for the quarter, up 5.46% year-on-year. This growth is nearly double the increase in tourist numbers, which experts see as a sign of inflationary pressure.

The Canary Islands, Spain's southernmost autonomous community, lie off the coast of Morocco. Formed by volcanic activity, they are known for their black and white beaches, turquoise waters, and mild year-round climate. Besides parties and nightlife, the archipelago offers wineries, dunes, and ideal conditions for wind sports.

However, growing tourist numbers are fuelling increasing discontent among locals. Anti-tourism protests take place regularly, including aggressive graffiti and calls for violence. Particular concern centres on water shortages and poor working conditions in the hospitality sector, where around 80,000 workers have already gone on strike this year.

Authorities are starting to respond to public concern. For instance, from 2026 Tenerife plans to introduce an environmental fee for non-residents visiting Teide National Park, home to Spain's highest point, the Teide volcano. According to island council president Rosa Dávila, the funds raised will go toward environmental projects. There are also plans to restrict car access to the park, replacing them with electric shuttles.

Nevertheless, it remains unclear whether these steps will be enough to ease public discontent. A large-scale protest by the Canarias Tiene Un Límite (The Canaries Have a Limit) movement is expected on 18 May, with representatives stating: "Today our dependence on tourism is at its peak, housing is becoming unaffordable, poverty and social inequality are rising, and the archipelago's unique nature is rapidly disappearing amid large-scale investment projects." Participants are demanding a fundamental shift in the development model to secure a dignified future for local residents.