Overview

• Protests involving tens of thousands of residents erupted across the Canary Islands on May 18–19, calling for limits on tourist numbers and stronger environmental protections.
• British bookings for Tenerife have dropped by 8% year-on-year as anti-tourism sentiment grows, prompting concerns about economic impacts on local businesses.
• The Canary Islands government is holding emergency discussions with activists to develop a sustainable tourism model that balances residents' needs with economic reliance on visitors.
• The Balearic Islands have banned influencer promotions, citing 'selfie tourism' as a driver of overcrowding and environmental strain at sensitive locations.
• Spain's consumer affairs ministry, backed by the supreme court, has ordered Airbnb to remove 65,000 illegal listings to combat housing shortages and rising rental costs.