The Dark Side of Tourism: Why Lanzarote is Warning Brits to Stay Away
Signs of Overcrowding on Lanzarote
A FAVOURITE British holiday island is on the verge of “collapse” from overcrowding as signs pop up warning holidaymakers to stay away. Lanzarote is gearing up for a huge protest as unofficial banners saying the hotspot is “closed” have been plastered all over the island.
Residents Warn Off Tourists
Fed-up residents claim Lanzarote, popular with sun-seeking Brits, is “collapsing socially and environmentally”. Pictures from the island show black and red signs reading “Do Not Enter, this area is closed for overcrowding” on a sandy beach. Nearby an angry sticker reads: “It’s not tourism it’s invasion”.
Protest Against Overcrowding
Residents are banding together under the chant “Lanzarote has a limit”, encouraging others to join in their march on April 20. They say the more than three million tourists that visit each year have “completely destroyed the quality of life in the Canary Islands”.
Support for Sustainable Tourism
While organisers are trying to quell tourist overcrowding and its consequences, they claim to support “the arrival of tourists in a controlled and sustainable way”. The Canary Island’s president Fernando Clavijo recently begged tourists to keep coming to the sunny hotspot – saying they “shouldn’t face insults” while visiting.
Growing Anti-Tourism Movement
Residents rage that it’s affecting waste management, clean water, quality of life, public transport, and the environment. Posts on social media under “Lanzarote has a limit” say “it is necessary to act immediately to change the mass tourism model”. “Lanzarote is no longer sustainable,” they argue.
Conflict with Tourists
It’s not the first or only Canary Island to go up in arms about its level of tourism. Tenerife blasted Brits as “cancer” and told the UK holidaymakers to “go home” over the East holidays. Local residents fumed that the island suffers from an influx of “low quality” tourists and claimed drunk partygoers are ruining their paradise.
Safety Concerns for Tourists
News of the fresh protest comes just days after reports of British tourists calling up hotels in Tenerife ahead of their summer holidays to ask if they’ll be safe on the island. After the anti-tourist graffiti and widespread campaigns, anxious holidaymakers are now ringing up hotel chains with concerns for their safety.
Conclusion
Dominating the headlines with their anti-tourism stance, Lanzarote and other Canary Islands are sending a strong message to tourists worldwide. As the debate on overcrowding and sustainability heats up, the future of these popular holiday destinations hangs in the balance.