After a few complicated summers due to the presence of the pandemic and strong inflation as a result of the war in Ukraine, tourism is beginning to recover the strength of recent years in Spain. Our country is one of the main destinations for many foreign touristswho come every summer to enjoy the thousands of kilometres of beaches that Spain has.
But, just like a car at low levels, it can also be a problem. mass tourism. And they recently demonstrated against this in the Canary Islands. In its seven capitals, in addition to La Graciosa, they met more than 57,000 people (100,000 for the organizers) to protest against the effects of the current tourism model, with social, labor and environmental consequences.
Just a few days after these concentrations, the Government of the Canary Islands reacted with the proposal of charge an ecotax to tourists who want to visit protected natural areas for next year. Meanwhile, the Council is working on a plan to carry out A study so that finally the rate, of an unknown amount at the moment, is implemented in 2025.
Reactions in the UK
A measure that has been commented on in different British media, from where hundreds of tourists come to the islands every year. The British will have to pay a new tourist tax in Tenerife, after the local population demanded the freezing of tourists in the massive protests against tourism, the newspaper reports The Sun.
In his article, which collects the unrest of the Canarian population Due to the presence of so much tourism, they say that the inhabitants of the islands are fed up with the low quality british touristswho only come for the Cheap beer, burgers and sunbathing.
Daily Mailfor its part, collects the pressure from several activist groups to stop the construction of a five-star hotel on one of the last virgin beaches in Tenerife: The Tejita. Likewise, they highlight the presence of graffiti in some parts of the islands against the visit of tourists.
The project, for 2025
For the moment, the Tenerife Council has announced that from now on This summer, a first tourist fee will be charged to access the natural space of the Masca ravine.. Likewise, access to the ravine will be limited to a maximum of 275 people per day, and to be able to take it there will be a bus line. Those who visit us have to value and respect our natural and cultural wealthour resources, and the rules for their preservation must be clear, said Rosa Dvila, president of the Cabildo de Tenerife.
According to the text of the insular Government, the natural spaces of Tenerife, which include notable areas such as the Teide National Park, the town of Masca, the Anaga Biosphere Reserve or the Teno Rural Park, represent places of great ecological and landscape value. Residents of Tenerife are excluded from this measure, while The rest of the citizens of the Canary Islands will have to pay a part of the price, still to be determined. The proceeds from this fee will be used to conserve natural spaces and improve services there.
Follow the AS Newspaper channel on WhatsAppwhere you will find all things sport in one place: the latest news, the agenda with the latest news on the most important sporting events, the most notable images, the opinions of the best AS journalists, reports, videos, and a bit of humour from time to time.
