Major change to Lanzarote and Tenerife as holidaymakers abandon resorts in their droves
Holidaymakers are abandoning popular Spanish Canary Islands spots like Tenerife and Lanzarote in their droves. It comes as locals protest against over-tourism and rising housing costs, while one popular beach faces an indefinite swimming ban due to h
The Spanish Canary Islands of Lanzarote, Tenerife and Gran Canaria are among the most popular holiday destinations for Irish tourists.
They are known for their islands golden sand beaches, crystal clear waters, authentic Spanish tapas - and of course, guaranteed sun.
However, those from Britain are said to be abandoning the sunshine resorts in their droves due to a major EU rule change. Since Brexit, British tourists are only allowed to stay in the Schengen area (a free movement area without border controls that includes 26 countries including Spain but excluding Ireland) for 90 days. Each passenger must get their passport inspected manually and date-stamped on arrival and departure.
Meanwhile Irish citizens benefit from EU-wide passenger rights for travel into, out of, or within the EU by air, rail, bus/coach or ship.
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Brits being keen to vacate the islands comes as those living in the Canary Isles have voiced their objections against tourism and insisted their region is 'not for sale'.
Birmingham Live reports that demonstrators want to cut short-term holiday lettings and hotel developments, which they say are pushing up housing costs in the area. Some protestors have been pictured holding signs saying. 'We don't want to see our island die', 'Stop Hotels' and 'Canaries not for sale' in their objections to 'over-tourism'.
Among them was one demonstrator in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, who said: "It's not a message against the tourist, but against a tourism model that doesn't benefit this land and needs to be changed."
Another protester said: "The authorities must immediately stop this corrupt and destructive model that depletes the resources and makes the economy more precarious. The Canary Islands have limits and people's patience has limits too."
Last week, the islands' president Fernando Clavijo Batlle said he felt "proud" the region is a leading Spanish tourism spot, but admitted that more controls are needed. The archipelago, which is is home to two million residents, attract a much larger number of holidaymakers each year.
Mirror UK recently reported that holidaymakers headed to Tenerife were warned about a ban stopping them from swimming in the sea. Irish holidaymakers who are heading to Tenerife for a holiday will not be able to go into the sea at one particular beach because of pollution in the water.
Playa Jardin, in Puerto de la Cruz, is a popular spot for visitors as it's one of the prettiest beaches in the Canary Islands - but there is currently an indefinite ban on anyone going in the sea because of the health risks. The indefinite ban on bathing, which came into force on Thursday, July 4, is due to contamination following wastewater pollution, which was exposed during tests for E.coli.
Health chiefs have warned visitors it could be dangerous to swim in the sea, The Sun reports. Warning signs were also posted in different languages at all entrances to the beach. Anyone who ignores the alerts could risk catching ear, eye, skin or nasal infections, as well as gastrointestinal diseases.
A public health report by the Government of the Canary Islands detailed the water quality. Puerto de la Cruz council said: "There is epidemiological evidence that this situation can cause gastrointestinal symptoms due to ingestion of water, as well as other types of conditions such as acute respiratory infections and infections of the ears, eyes, nasal passages and skin.
"This decision will be extended indefinitely and is a measure in response to the decline in water quality that has been occurring at least since 2016 in the Playa Jardín area and, above all, in this last year 2024." Water quality at the beach has dropped from "excellent to insufficient" in just eight years.
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