British holidaymakers may need to switch up their sunny holiday plans as one of the Canary Islands ' most popular destinations is considering significant changes to its tourism model . Following months of mounting tension over mass tourism , local authorities have launched a public consultation that could pave the way for a potential ban on new hotel developments. The Canary Islands, a Spanish archipelago off the northwest coast of Africa, welcomed 15.
5 million international tourists last year, with nearly 40% of visitors hailing from the UK. Tenerife topped the charts with over 6.2 million international visitors, while Gran Canaria followed closely with nearly 4 million tourists.
Despite its smaller size compared to Tenerife , Gran Canaria remains a favourite for sun-seeking travellers. However, the region's thriving tourism industry has sparked growing discontent among locals. Last year, thousands of residents across the archipelago took to the streets, chanting, "Canary Islands has a limit" and demanding measures to curb the impact of overtourism.
Protesters highlighted issues such as skyrocketing property prices driven by holiday homes, environmental degradation, and wealth inequality. Among the changes that have been proposed by organisations and local governments are a tourist tax, improved wages for local workers, and restrictions on new holiday accommodations. The ongoing public consultation, spearheaded by Gran Canaria's Cabildo (local government), calls on residents.
