FabSwingers.com > Forums > Spain > Anti-tourist sentiment Canary Isles
Anti-tourist sentiment Canary Isles
Jump to: Newest in thread
We are looking to go on holiday in June and we are not looking to spend a great deal of money on a week's break so in our budget range is Turkey and the Canary Islands.
We have been to PDI twice now in the last couple of years and thoroughly enjoyed our time there but I have been reading a few articles that pop up now and then about the locals protesting about over-tourism on the islands. Things ranging from a handful of people shouting at the new arrivals, holding placards telling us to go home to other less obvious things like the airport crews being slow on purpose taking 90 minutes at times to get luggage on the carousels for collection. Things like a lack of airport staff to assist with enquiries, not enough of a police presence for trouble that might occur, taxi ranks being under provided so people wait up to two hours to be able to leave Gran Canaria airport.
Is this a case of the tabloid media over hyping things? Is it that these events are random and low in number or is there a genuine issue brewing that might make it uncomfortable for conflict-averse people like ourselves?
I have read it's not just GC that's had these issues, Tenerife and Fuertaventura have also been mentioned in the articles.
So the question is to those who have been in the last month or so, have you seen anything like this there? We have walked passed anti-tourist graffiti in PDI before which okay isn't much but still not nice.
Any relevant comments greatly appreciated before we decide to 'play safe' and enjoy Turkey instead.
-Lord. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
 |
By *den_GCCouple 13 weeks ago
San Fernando, Gran Canaria |
As an expat living in Gran Canaria, specifically PDI, I have seen NOTHING of this
There were protests in Tenerife a few weeks ago but they were hotel workers conditions and pay NOT tourism, although they were put out in the news as anti-tourist protests
In PDI, we need tourists, we are a holiday destination island and cannot survive without tourists
The tourists go and PDI hospitality establishments will die |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"In PDI, we need tourists, we are a holiday destination island and cannot survive without tourists
The tourists go and PDI hospitality establishments will die"
It does make me wonder how many jobs would be lost and how the islands would survive without tourism. Clearly there is a need for some kind of inward cash flow because without it, the Canarys are basically desert islands in the Atlantic and next thing you know, nobody wants to live there because clean water costs too much  . Let alone food and basic necessities.
I am probably overreacting but if these articles have made us consider Turkey instead, I wonder how many other holidays have been affected by the same 'news'  . |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By *ale4FunCouple 13 weeks ago
Lanarkshire/Canaries |
We were in PDI last month. Never saw anything like that at all. Think we left the airport about 20 minutes after landing and no taxi queue so we at our villa in just about one hour. Guess it’s the media! 🙄 |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
You missing the point. Is.not against turism is against the turism model. And the poor conditions and salary of workers on the island. And the fact the islands a dying of sucess, locals cant find a resonable property to rent or buy due to other people renting out to tourist. There is around 2.million residents on the island, last year 17 million tourist this year we expect 18 million. So yes to bring tourist but agains destroying more beaches, no more new hotels, better conditions for the workers. You get good service in the canary islands and is safer and other destinys. But the big hotels and travel agencys make most of the.profit, locales are against all inclusive because kills local and small business. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"You missing the point. Is.not against turism is against the turism model. And the poor conditions and salary of workers on the island. And the fact the islands a dying of sucess, locals cant find a resonable property to rent or buy due to other people renting out to tourist. There is around 2.million residents on the island, last year 17 million tourist this year we expect 18 million. So yes to bring tourist but agains destroying more beaches, no more new hotels, better conditions for the workers. You get good service in the canary islands and is safer and other destinys. But the big hotels and travel agencys make most of the.profit, locales are against all inclusive because kills local and small business."
|
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By *ncubus1976Man 12 weeks ago
Fuerteventura/Gran Canaria |
"We are looking to go on holiday in June and we are not looking to spend a great deal of money on a week's break so in our budget range is Turkey and the Canary Islands.
We have been to PDI twice now in the last couple of years and thoroughly enjoyed our time there but I have been reading a few articles that pop up now and then about the locals protesting about over-tourism on the islands. Things ranging from a handful of people shouting at the new arrivals, holding placards telling us to go home to other less obvious things like the airport crews being slow on purpose taking 90 minutes at times to get luggage on the carousels for collection. Things like a lack of airport staff to assist with enquiries, not enough of a police presence for trouble that might occur, taxi ranks being under provided so people wait up to two hours to be able to leave Gran Canaria airport.
Is this a case of the tabloid media over hyping things? Is it that these events are random and low in number or is there a genuine issue brewing that might make it uncomfortable for conflict-averse people like ourselves?
I have read it's not just GC that's had these issues, Tenerife and Fuertaventura have also been mentioned in the articles.
So the question is to those who have been in the last month or so, have you seen anything like this there? We have walked passed anti-tourist graffiti in PDI before which okay isn't much but still not nice.
Any relevant comments greatly appreciated before we decide to 'play safe' and enjoy Turkey instead.
-Lord. "
Hi there....
I'm Spanish from the Canary Islands... and I just tell you all THERE IS NO AN ANTI-TOURIST SENTIMENT here in the islands...
If you have read a few articles about local protests agianst tourism they are a very few stupid brainless stinky leftists protesting against any random thing... against tourists, suporting Hammas or the color of the buterflies.... they are just lazy subsidised people.
Enjoy your visit
 |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"As an expat living in Gran Canaria, specifically PDI, I have seen NOTHING of this
There were protests in Tenerife a few weeks ago but they were hotel workers conditions and pay NOT tourism, although they were put out in the news as anti-tourist protests
In PDI, we need tourists, we are a holiday destination island and cannot survive without tourists
The tourists go and PDI hospitality establishments will die"
I agree, I was in Tenerife a few weeks ago. The protests were well managed and light hearted. The workers were just trying to get their point across peacefully. I have been in PDI multiple times and returning in June and wouldn’t give it a second thought. I’ll be going for years to come with a bit of luck |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"We are looking to go on holiday in June and we are not looking to spend a great deal of money on a week's break so in our budget range is Turkey and the Canary Islands.
We have been to PDI twice now in the last couple of years and thoroughly enjoyed our time there but I have been reading a few articles that pop up now and then about the locals protesting about over-tourism on the islands. Things ranging from a handful of people shouting at the new arrivals, holding placards telling us to go home to other less obvious things like the airport crews being slow on purpose taking 90 minutes at times to get luggage on the carousels for collection. Things like a lack of airport staff to assist with enquiries, not enough of a police presence for trouble that might occur, taxi ranks being under provided so people wait up to two hours to be able to leave Gran Canaria airport.
Is this a case of the tabloid media over hyping things? Is it that these events are random and low in number or is there a genuine issue brewing that might make it uncomfortable for conflict-averse people like ourselves?
I have read it's not just GC that's had these issues, Tenerife and Fuertaventura have also been mentioned in the articles.
So the question is to those who have been in the last month or so, have you seen anything like this there? We have walked passed anti-tourist graffiti in PDI before which okay isn't much but still not nice.
Any relevant comments greatly appreciated before we decide to 'play safe' and enjoy Turkey instead.
-Lord. "
Was there in pdi two weeks ago not a protester in sight |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"You need to stop reading the Daily Mail."
Funny. And irrelevant. I stopped listening to the Daily Fail a couple of decades ago. But when articles like this :
BBC News - Spain clamps down on Airbnb as tourism backlash returns for summer - BBC News
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3wdd8lg581o appear today , showing that sonething happened, it makes me wonder.
Thank you to the people who contributed to this thread. We have booked Turkey. When the world calms down some more, we'll rethink about the Canarys. We've had some of our best times there  . |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
BBC News - Spain clamps down on Airbnb as tourism backlash returns for summer - BBC News
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3wdd8lg581o
In case the link is broken.
The idea of 'thousands' of people protesting about the basic fact that we are there just doesn't sit well . |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By *essysteveCouple 11 weeks ago
ALICANTE AREA SPAIN |
this is all scaremongering by the British press. We live in Spain and yesy,property prices have gone up a lot and local youngsters are struggling to get on the property ladder but that is nodifferent than in the UK.
Spain need ot look at minimum wages and look to building affordable housing for the youngsters |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"BBC News - Spain clamps down on Airbnb as tourism backlash returns for summer - BBC News
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3wdd8lg581o
In case the link is broken.
The idea of 'thousands' of people protesting about the basic fact that we are there just doesn't sit well . "
I think you have completely misunderstood what the protests are about, the protests are not against the actual tourists but against the way that that housing is being oversold for tourism and in some cases actually misused as unlicensed holiday accommodation.
I have been in Gran Canaria when the protests have been on and at no time have the protests been directed towards actual tourists.
The UK media is for some strange reason trying to exaggerate the issue and create uncertainty over how welcome those visiting Spain and in particular the Canaries are when we are as welcome now as we have always been.
Gran Canaria along with the other islands want and need tourists and the employment that tourism brings they just want their own government to tighten up the regulations that control it by the way that actually includes protecting us the tourists from unscrupulous owners renting out sub standard accommodation. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
I never believe anything I read in the papers, except the date - and even then, I still check my calendar.
As for the British Bullshitting Corporation - not sure who`s worse, them or the Daily Fail.
|
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
Since this has been going on, I’ve been to GC, Lanza and Tenerife. The only remote thing I experienced was “Tourists go home” sprayed on a wall near garrachico, which wouldn’t get massive exposure.
That said, we’ve been welcomed by locals but understand that the model is dated and needs to be updated to:
1) Allow affordable living for locals.
2) Challenge Airbnb where locals are outpriced on accommodation and typically have distances to travel to resorts to work.
3) Offer some preservation to landmarks that need protection to maintain their beauty and existence.
4) Locals question where this income goes from tourism and have nothing to show.
I’m sure there’s a contrasting argument to each of these points, but the experience versus what I see in the tabloids that pop up on my browser feed are a stark contrast.
And anyone in doubt, I’d say go and visit, you will be welcomed. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
» Add a new message to this topic
