canaries

[WCZ]

I've been going to the canaries for xmas every couple of years for a long time now (20years or so) but since I was last there I've seen a lot of anti tourism protests and graffiti of "tourists go home" etc

has anyone been there within the last year?

just wondering if there is hostility towards tourists etc now

if so then i'll start looking for somewhere else to go for winter sun, really don't want to go somewhere where I don't feel welcome etc

[r159]

In Adeje at the moment, one bit of graffiti which said 'tourists go home', to which someone had sprayed over 'we are!'

[WCZ]

r159 said:

In Adeje at the moment, one bit of graffiti which said 'tourists go home', to which someone had sprayed over 'we are!'

have you felt any hostility towards you etc?

just looking for some insight as I need to book within the next few weeks and it would ruin my holiday to feel like I was unwelcome/instrusive there

[oilslick]

It's fine, I've been to Lanzarote and Tenerife already this year, going back in a few weeks.

[r159]

WCZ said:

r159 said:

In Adeje at the moment, one bit of graffiti which said 'tourists go home', to which someone had sprayed over 'we are!'

have you felt any hostility towards you etc?

just looking for some insight as I need to book within the next few weeks and it would ruin my holiday to feel like I was unwelcome/instrusive there

None whatsoever.

The guide on our Teide by night trip(well worth it) talked about the pressures on the island for the locals, nothing but interesting especially as I had never really read much about the history of the island.

[x5tuu]

Prostests and activity seems to be centred in areas that arent heavily tourist populated so far (canaries and balearics) - I have the sneaking suspicion that the main tourist areas are very aware that tourists are their life-blood and without them there wouldnt be the back-fill of locals to sustain their businesses.

A couple of friends live in Gran Canaria and thats certainly their perspecive and view.

[a311]

Yes Fuerteventura and returning in a few weeks. Nothing on the last visit. My wife was in Bareclona when the groups were firing water pistols at tourists.

I can sympathise as someone who was born and lives in the Lake District that unregulated tourism mainly with rentals can have on those who live and work in touristy areas and earn service industry wages.

I don't really get it so much with places like the Canaires however, take tourism away and what % of their GDP is that?

[x5tuu]

a311 said:

Yes Fuerteventura and returning in a few weeks. Nothing on the last visit. My wife was in Bareclona when the groups were firing water pistols at tourists.

I can sympathise as someone who was born and lives in the Lake District that unregulated tourism mainly with rentals can have on those who live and work in touristy areas and earn service industry wages.

I don't really get it so much with places like the Canaires however, take tourism away and what % of their GDP is that?

Somewhere between 23-43% depending what source you read and the island in quesion.

[bodhi]

We were in Ibiza earlier in the year when there were apparently protests going on - didn't see any evidence of them and most of the people we talked to couldn't do enough for us.

[Andy_290]

Went to Lanzarote in May - didn't notice anything other than the usual friendliness and happiness to have us there, and we were all across the island for a week

[Yetski]

I can sympathise with some of the people in these areas with rising prices due to short term lets etc, but it does seem that the MSM always seem to be pretty well informed and in attendance when these protests happen, in this a day n age when the agenda of reducing travel is getting pushed by them on a daily basis, and judging by comments on here and other places, it looks like you'd be unlucky to be effected.

[LuS1fer]

Repeated trips to Fuerteventura and Tenerife. Nothing at all. Glad to see you, largely.

Protests tend to be at Government buildings, not aimed at tourists.

[Old Merc]

Lanzarote in March, stayed in Playa Blanca. Did not see anything anti tourists. Everyone we met was super friendly.

[nuyorican]

I'd guess that it's not as simple as 'anti-tourist'. Things were fine when all the tourists stayed in the big white hotel/apartment complexes. It's the rise and scourge of AirBnB type holiday lets gobbling up all the housing stock. Same story anywhere remotely nice to visit, from Ibiza to The Peak District. Apropos of nothing, and I don't have the answer.