BRITS could face a daily “tourist tax” for visiting the Canary Islands after anti-tourist protesters demanded a freeze on tourists.
The president of the Canary Islands spoke of a daily indictment as tens of thousands of angry residents took to the streets to rage against the industry.
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The president of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, warned that a daily cost for visitors could be at stake.
Politicians are under pressure following this weekend’s marches as residents demand restrictions on the lucrative tourism industry.
A furious anti-tourist movement has been gaining momentum on the popular resort islands in recent months.
Bitter graffiti appeared telling Britons to “go home” and reading “your paradise, our misery”.
Although it is not included in current plans, Clavijo said the government is willing to consider suggestions of a charge of three euros per night.
He said last Friday: “It is true that the ecotax is not included in the government program, but it is also true that we are willing to discuss it; the government will always dialogue.”
Tourists visiting the equally popular Balearic islands – including Mallorca, Minorca and Ibiza – already pay between one and four euros per day if they are over 16.
Tenerife in particular struggled with sun-seeking Brits, who called the island’s hotels out of fear they wouldn’t be safe on their next holiday.
And unofficial signs saying “closed to tourists” have been posted on beaches to keep visitors out.
Residents of the sunny destination said they are “fed up” with “low-quality” British tourists who only come for cheap beer, burgers and sunbathing.
Yesterday, around 20,000 people filled a square in Santa Cruz, the capital of Tenerife, waving banners, including some that said “You like it, we suffer” in English.
Blowing horns and waving flags, they held banners that read: “People live here” and “We don’t want to see our island die.”
Marches were organized in Tenerife, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria, Madrid and Malaga under the slogan “The Canary Islands have a limit”.
Protesters are demanding authorities abandon major tourism projects – including one for a five-star hotel in Tenerife.
They attribute environmental issues, traffic problems and the housing crisis to mass tourism on the islands.
Other government demands include the protection of natural spaces, a tourist tax and better working conditions for hotel cleaners, who joined the protest in Santa Cruz by insisting to the local press: “We are not slaves”.
Organizers say the march reached up to 50,000 participants yesterday.
Some British tourists showed their support for the issues raised by the islanders, but others accused them of biting the hand that feeds them.
One Brit, Ellie Taylor, told The Sun: “Half the restaurants wouldn’t be open if it weren’t for us.”
Another disgruntled sunseeker put it more simply, scribbling next to some of the graffiti: “Fuck.
“We pay your salary!”
And not all authorities on the island agree with the strong anti-tourist sentiment.
Tourism Minister Jessica de Leon urged British tourists not to cancel their holidays ahead of yesterday’s demonstrations.
And Jorge Marichal, head of a hotel chain in Tenerife, revealed that Brits were calling in fear of not being safe on holiday on the island.
He said: “One of the problems I’m having is that customers are starting to call and ask what’s going on here and if it’s safe.”
Although the hotel owner said he understands the pain of the local population, he added that being “anti-tourist” is not the best option.
“It hurts me because people confuse the message. We don’t have to be anti-tourism. What we have to do is demand infrastructure that corresponds to the tourist model that has been chosen,” he said.
President Clavijo has already expressed his concerns regarding the movement, imploring tourists to continue coming.
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
