Beyond the Beaches: The Overtourism Crisis on the Canary Islands
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 ก.ย. 2024
- Trouble in paradise: On the Spanish Canary Islands, recurring mass protests have been breaking out against the rise in tourism. Residents complain of rent prices for apartments becoming unaffordable and rental cars clogging up the streets. DW reporter Nicole Frölich speaks with desperate residents, representatives of a citizens’ initiative and the tourism authority on Tenerife.
CREDITS:
Report: Nicole Frölich, Andreas Kirchhoff
Camera: Holm Weber
Editing: Leander Grewe
Supervising Editor: Christina Deicke
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#canaryislands #tenerife #overtourism #traveling
The real problem is wealth distribution. Local people should be the beneficiaries of tourism, politicians have a responsibility to ensure there is affordable housing for locals and tourist taxes could provide this.
So true
Sweet dreams
In capitalism, the one who gets up from the sofa gets all the cream. Stop complaining and go make your wealth.
@@Hfgh564 sure in your own country, thanks and bye
@@Superratis Thanks for the wisdom 😆
Although over-tourism is definitely a problem on the islands, I don’t think it’s the only cause of the locals being priced out, of affordable accommodation. Low income workers not being able to find somewhere to live, is happening everywhere. Even in, no tourist areas. This is a problem spreading across the whole planet. I think over-tourism is used as something as a scapegoat, in the case of the Canaries. The real issue, is wealth inequality, as a result of greed and hyper capitalism.
I agree with you in general, however over-tourism is bad for the environment and affects the local culture negatively, especially in the south of Tenerife and Gran Canaria. In this case I would say both things are a serious problem.
thats the product of tourism...tourism generates a lot of revenue, possibly as much as real estate, specially with lack of controls over airbnbs...airbnbs don't even have to pay taxes...
I have been living on a touristy island in SE Asia for the last 12 year, on and off.
Here, especially after COVID - see that not necessarily tourism kills these islands but digital nomads and content creators.
They don't live in line with island life, they bring the city to the island and we are seeing devastating results.
Locals are in debt to work on the island, because of the housing situation.
Immigrated locals, who fuel the tourism industry as instructors, administrators and logistical staff - have lost their
housing - for the (rightfully so) owners to seek out better revenue on AirBnB but it leaves the islands biggest selling point dead in the water.
And tourist while they bring money, they also have become all about "worth and value" - devaluing products, services and causing a rift between those who travel and those who serve you in those locations. If you can't afford to pay for your travel, food or wanted stuff - why should I devalue my business or product for you?
Environmentally speaking - this is even worse when it comes to younger nomads, creators and travellers. SE Asia is experiencing a strange powerful coral bleaching where the top half of the reef temperature has reached 33 degrees but more worryingly is that the deeper measurements slow a steady increase in temperatur in the bays and close to islands. Most likely due to "hot" water and sewage being dumped right in the ocean.
Eco tourism should be a thing in fragile environments and if you dont value these places enough to follow local guidelines, pay "park / tourism fees" and
actually pay what it costs to have this moment on a remote island - you dont deserve to travel, you dont deserve paradise because you don't want to protect it. Easy as that to be honest.
I grew up there in the north , I came back after 30 years I was not impressed coming from Miami , to make it short. there is only one spot in the south were tourism is thriving and housing is missing because workers need to live close by
,the north is stuck in time
I would argue there is tourism missing.
It was New and the Nightlife was way better then now its events and good Restaurants .
In a Way its good that Tourism
Is centered on small Portion of the South from also a ecological standpoint
So tourism bounced back rapidly after covid ,the island was cut off from the world
On a money Lifeline from the State
AND Now some I-diod Students that newer worked a day in their life are Protesting.
Guess what ,I ask everybody who I encounter where they are from , People from Tenerife escaped before Tourism to the Rich Countries of South America ,now that they have been destroyed by Socialists They came In droves every 3rd Person I encountered , none of the so called media ever reports that and they work in hospitality and drive up rents mostly in the big city of Santa Cruz ( no Tourists there ) most people on the Island depend on
Tourism
I like the People there allthough there is I-diods too that burn down the Forests on Purpose and Protest against their main source of income , lets be frank there is also a racist element against the Brits and Germans.
They partly made the Island what it is Today.
Now they want to curb foreign investment
What they really need is more capital ,not less.
A short answer would be they would stay in Venezuela or Cuba or Senegal or ...
Tenerife is full of People from these countries and yes they drive up housing on the Island ,but they can make a living there , They are escaping
Socialism and that is the
Problem and not the answer !
The secret to life is moderation. Too much of anything is not a good thing.
It's difficult to moderate greed
@@VolkerHelmichBoth statements are true.
@@patrickwong4824 Yes Wong
The problem is money. Tourists have the money, locals don't. Some people are making a lot of money of the tourists, the locals are not.
I'm sorry but it's not going to change for one simple reason GREED !
I 'm sorry but it's not going to change for one simple reason BRITS!
These problems are obviously not unique to Tenerife - ie stagnant wages and the lack of affordable accommodation. It's a massive problem for much of the developed world.
It seems that the local simply want a tiny part of the money being generated is put towards providing for them. The big question is who should pay for that? A tourist tax or those making the money in the first place?
I would also argue against the tourism spokesperson who claims higher class of tourist will generate more money for the island - that's not the way it works and if they are moving more towards massive all inclusive beachfront complexes then all that extra money is going to stay within the walls of that newly built resort.
Owned by international corporation that don't pay a fraction of the tax they should to the canary. While small local businesses are shafted by local taxes.
everywhere is overtourism.... japan is having overtourism too... then bali... amsterdam... paris..phuket... venice... there's just simply too many human in this planet already 😂
Hilarious 🙄
There are not too many humans in the planet. There is a big unbalance of people with wealth and the locations they live/visit. There are many places on earth that are not beautiful or not hospitable and therefore people don't live/visit them, but many people live in Europe and many others come to visit Europe from other continents, so it causes this overtourism situation.
@@EduarFilms the planet is definitely overpopulated
This over abundance of tourism is occurring in so many locations but they need the tourists and their money but completely understand all the concerns it creates. Locals still must come first.
Capitalism would still come first. If I am a local who can pay 800 Euro and you are a local who can pay 1300 Euro, who gets the apartment?
Spread the wealth and everyone can benefit from tourism
Communist here? Silence is gold, as they say 😂
This problem is happening all over the world. The problem isn't the tourists per se, but the investors who buy up property so that the price of what's left goes up. I honestly believe that if you get rid of AirBnBs and don't let foreigners purchase property, the problem will go away.
HOWEVER, many of these places (like Barcelona) are desperate for income. Youth unemployment in Spain is at 30%! But as the man said, money is coming in, but it's not being distributed equally.
How can youth unemployment be so high when all Spanish and Portuguese young folks now come live in our country? It's crazy how many we have here now.
Not hard to solve. Decide the maximum numbers of tourists per month. Limit air lift to the numbers decided. Anyone who has made a tourist investment needs to understand they are not guaranteed a certain set of tourists or a certain revenue per year. And a fund to diversify should be made by taxing tourist revenues more.
Very easy : limit the number of flights ! When the Canary Islands - or the Greek Islands - were only accessible by ship, they were not crowded… Do not build high rises or anything huge. Implement a dress code for tourists so they dress appropriately in the cities.
Where is the government/rules/regulations? Simple solution, it's local inhabitants should be given a higher wages and first choice over accommodation and jobs. Simple! And perhaps have a week -two week period every summer where they have the Beeches and streets to themselves.
Contrast that with Lanzarote where that great Architect and Painter Cesar Manrique successfully blocked high rises and developed a respect for nature and the environment. That island and Grand Canarias are my favourite. Still haven't made in to La Gomera which I gather is unspoilt.
Don't care much for Tenerife and Fueraventura.
El turismo es una fuente de riqueza pero también de pobreza para los residentes locales de Marbella o de Fuengirola, en mi Andalucía o para los locales de las Islas Canarias. No hay que olvidar que los camareros, cocineros y limpiadoras de hoteles tambén necesitan tener un hogar con arreglo a sus ingresos económicos. Buen documental de la DW
Dont kill me in the comments, but the locals can stfu!
They shouldnt blame the tourist's, they should blame the governments, and they shouldnt say no more tourists, instead they should say share the money fairly.
You cant have it both ways, 40% of employment is tourism. Go beyond the beaches P DL Americas in TFS, youll see loads of land and cheap accommodation. Locals dont want to live there, they want to live in Adeje. Well you need to earn that, you cant claim Im going to live there because I belong and screw whatever's gone before us thats made it, that dont happen in the real world. The fact is, without tourism the whole thing would emplode, so be grateful and live with it.
Surely just raise more Tourist taxes and invest the money into infrastructure and affordable housing for locals
The current travel advice for the Canary Islands is to remain cautious throughout your visit
If tourists use AirBB this cant benefit directly the locals that rent out property, l have done this before. If tourist liked and wished to return then they could cut out Airbb and directly pay the local property owner.
Property tax is high in Tenerife, A percentage of this could build affordable housing for locals.
Sin taxes could go up and the extra money ring fenced build more affordable homes, plenty ground up towards south airport locals do get free bus travel and service great.
Perhaps a tourist tax paid on entry/exit few euros a night this could also solve housing crisis.
If no tourism then theres not many jobs for locals.
Very simple. Ban all cruises and all air bnb. Or do what Bhutan does, require every visitor hire a tour guide. Last time I was at Bhutan, I barely saw any tourists. It was a great experience. Beautiful country and not crowded. Can’t recommend that country enough!
Will all finish when flying becomes too expensive due to climate nutters who think the general public should only holiday in their own countries.
One more sad recount about capitalistic greed balanced on the backs of the working class class. Don’t figure out how to get those who make huge profits on tourists to fairly compensate those who make the island work for tourists.
They just should share the wealth among locals somehow…
If you visit the Canary Islands, you are going to see low-income labour everywhere. And these are not "locals". Not to mention that there weren't always so many "locals" in the Canary Islands until the tourism money showed up. I feel for them, but they are cutting off their nose to spite their face.
The real problem is African illegal immigration not the tourists.
..I'd love to travel with You My Love!! ..💝🌹
If there isn't a place for the workers live then that could negatively impact the hotels, restaurants, etc. It is to the benefit of everyone for there to be a focus on that.
Seems to me that there are numerous ways to ensure that locals benefit more
Yes
The problems he mentions though are a problem everywhere in the world, even in places where there is no tourism..
don't make travel videos then.
Why not? When we can address the issue and curb unmindful and unsustainable tourism mostly fueled by bad tourists insensitive to local cultures and traditions.
They got too greedy and now they are complaining... Would be funny if everybody just agreed to stay away for a year or two and then see what they say 😂🤣
Well said 😂. That's actually happened in Mallorca - the stupid protesters have scared away a lot of tourists and they're now begging them to come back and spend money in their loss-making businesses.
Madom
Your this video absolutely very beautiful. I am enjoyed this view. Thankyou for introducing this beautiful place in this world. I watching from India ❤️
You should visit 😂
The tourism lady dodged the question on more hotels being built,they are hand in hand with developers. A toothless organisation,we can holidays there and help the locals but only with official help to distribute money to where it’s needed. A property tax for overseas buyers and hotel developers to build social housing is a start
If only immigration addressed this way. 😂 Limit arrivals and stays 😂😂
These anti-tourism protesters should be very careful what they wish for and should remind themselves of the famous saying: "Never bite the hand that feeds you" (as all the owners of the empty shops and restaurants in Mallorca are now finding out to their detriment)
Agree. Our family been visiting Gran Canaria, Mallorca and Tenerife on a regular basis. Since we now get the impression that we are not wanted, we bring our cash to Egypt and USA instead.
@@slaathaug Yes you can go to Egypt but definitely Egypt will not give you the 'safe' feeling that you have in Europe that is for sure, try Cairo, but not with organized trips, go by yourself and experience the wonderful wild life in Cairo...... yeah I know Hurghada as well, the same and see as well how free you can feel in those places with you and your family.
@@enkaipritie4955 I been in Hurghada, Sharm El Sheikh x2, Cairo and Alexandria. Never felt unsafe
You a property developer?😂
They have every right to try and set some living standard for themselves. Otherwise, if they're not benefiting, if they have to live on low wages and can't afford a home, it's nothing more than soft colonialism.
Irish to be blamed 😂
😂they love Tenerife..don't they😂
Hey, maybe you work more, earn more and rebuild infrastracture!?? I live in a 20 million city and can't understand all these moanings.
Your wealth is based only on tourism. Stop complainig and idle.
For a people,especially from C.islands that living comes from
Tourism,I agree that tourism needs to be raised x10 times more ,everyone will make the living !
Those woke peoples and their ideas destroying communities
I liked the initiative to raise awareness of this issue but real topics haven't been even brought up. Such as :
the island is building more holiday stays and luxury villas that locals can't afford (even if that delegate said that they're not, it's quite obvioust they are all over the south),
existing hotels only refurbishing their interiors,giving them a little face lift but do not make real changes to their waste disposal issues (they create contamination of the water bringing disease and lowering biodiversity),
there are various illegaly built hotels and resorts on land clasified as natural reservations,
there is also a oversaturation of vacational holiday rentals, villas build for the upper class and impossible monitary expectations when it comes to renting leading to locals having to share overpriced housing, adopt a camper lifestyle or live in ravines and caves...
The thought's nice, but this didn't even scratch the surface
When I used to go on holiday there as a kid it wasn’t so busy and it was nice but obviously things have changed now. Think the locals are blaming the wrong people. They should be blaming the people that are renting out the bnbs. If people just used the hotels then people would have their homes and wouldn’t be so overcrowded.
The locals must have a set price for buying property. The tourists must have a set price too. The tourists must pay more for their properties.
Yes local goverment should build cheap small apartments for locals, and luxury more expensive villas for tourists maybe next to shore to get more rich tourist investors
I know what could help the tourist problem programmes like yourself and it being all over the news channels and newspapers if it was not for all this the problem would not be half as bad, It's like do you not know advertising the problem everywhere makes it ten times worse than it really is?😮
That development has to stop eventually.....surely? Otherwise they will end up building everywhere on top of the lovely landscape that people want to see.
Not only do I follow DW for years and years, but I have also send zillions of your videos to my English students. I’m quite shocked to see how non-accurate the Spanish subtitles are, not to mention how the lady’s voice resembles that of a not-so-nice spanish that’s learned English in the US lol
We are very sorry to hear this and hope that you will still stay with us and enjoy our videos.
At least she speaks the language! FFS
@@LordPinky455 she’s Spanish lol
@@dannygalvez2596 Yep that would indeed be a valid reason... i re-read your statement... seems my brain misread some stuff... i should refrain from commenting before having my liter of morningcoffee. Lo siento :)
Oh no the colonizers are getting colonized lol
I don't get "rental cars clogging up the streets". Couldn't the local government operate a public transit service that operates every 30 minutes, 24 hours per day throughout the island and abolish, or at least severly limit the number of, rental cars at the airport to fix traffic? Should cost less than expanding a motorway.
Sounds like a good idea to us! 😊
@@DWTravelyou should be impartial
Blame youtube and social media for all this overtourism
I feel it might be a solution from the tourist side to choose a local accommodation instead of the hotel
When we went to canary islands about 7-8 years ago, there weren't many people back then!
It was the same for me when I went to Tenerife as a kid. It wasn’t too busy. I’m 37 years old now. They are blaming the wrong people. They should be blaming the people that are renting out the bnbs, not the tourists. If they just had the hotels available then the regular people would have their housing and wouldn’t be so overcrowded.
they complain about too many tourists, okay i can understand to some point, but they don't seem to complain about mass illegal immigration coming in every other day or the narco trafficers using the canary islands as a gate way to ship cocaine from colombia to the rest of europe
I don't know if you follow Spanish media, but Spaniards complain about mass migration every day. It's in the news, it's what people talk about, and it's responsible for the rebound of extreme right groups. They also talk about narcs, it's also on the news every day and there are multiple TV series and documentaries about it.
I think Iceland has a waiting list for tourists who want to visit.
Iceland has no waiting list for tourists. In Iceland the capacity and price level limit the number of tourists. It will never be a package holiday destination for masses like the Canary Islands. I'm one of the many northern Europeans who like to take a break in the sun in winter, the Canaries and Thailand still are the most popular options. But I do understand why the locals are fed up in places like Tenerife.
The problem of the earth that birth rate in development nations are lowering for decates and it means less educated and skilled people. Business pays for skills, unskilled worker could be easily thrown away and constantly on low wages. Unskilled force screaming that they need bigger wages however question is for what? 12 hours of washing dishes or cleaning apartments? Do u really need masters degree for it?
Raised the price taxes on parks, impose beach entry fees, and landing permit - generally strategize for high-end tourists. Dont try to attract the middle class. It may reduce the numbers but maintain the revenue. Just might.
Great video!
Madeira has a similar story. Housing is too expensive to be afforded by the average local. Im sure tourism plays a part somewhere in there. Politicians need to do better for all islands out here. Being swamped by the wealthy overseas.
Just pay them more money…
I would understand if tourists came and messed everything up and had no respect for the place but that doesn’t sound like what’s happening. They’re angry because there’s a zillion hotels but no place for the locals to live and to me, that sounds like a voting issue, not a tourism issue. It sounds like they need to vote for people who have their best interest at heart instead of people who are only concerned with lining their own pockets with cash.
Canary Islands is more and more managed by non-Spanish interests.
Same with Wales in the U.K.
It's fascinating to see humans coming to terms with overpopulation.
'Oh but we're not!'
Okay then.
Sorry but does beaches are overated
In times of covid epidemic..the tourism industry took a knock..now they wish them gone..I never go to over populated tourist venues..you never get the real deal anyway of the country and it's people..give the their privacy and let them be..
This is not about tourism, this is about governments that didnt care about living conditions of their citizens, they give lizenzes to bild many hotels and dont invest in bildings, the transport infrastructure colaps each summer. One think is for sure without tourism there is no Tenerife.
the Netherlands has the same issues too! A lot of European countries. Germany, France etc.
Stolen from africa
Isolationism.
The property price for locals is the problem. The tourists are gaining the upper hand.
Berber land
This probably sounds familiar to Hawaii residents.
They don’t care about tourism. They want cheaper housing and less traffic jams. Neither has anything to do with tourism. Cities without overtourism also have expensive housing and traffic jams.
Ikr
With global warming everyone will be going north for vacation soon.
yep away with tourists - they dont need their money, dont they??
All they are interested in is the restaurants, bars etc. Pityful.
Al menos en Canarias los islenos tienen otra entrada, agricultura, de la cual las Baleares adolecen y dependen 100% del tutismo.
But, it is not the turists !! It is your Gobierno!!!
Deny entry to everyone entering Canary Islands!
Had the same look with snails years ago.
Autoglass repair....
why the locals do not own a house if they are locals
Their parents do not them
Ok
To me, it seems all over the world, people are confusing problems of tourism and capitalism. An apartment with a view of the Sea is a luxury apartment, because it is limited supply with high demand. Even if all tourists stay at their home, if I don't have a good salary, I will still not be able to pay the rent for a luxury apartment. Not being able to afford a modest apartment, is a problem with tourism.
😢
This video made me want to revisit Tenerife! 😂❤
Canary Islands are essentially off-limits to Americans, because there are no direct flights, therefore you’re looking at a 12-hr total travel time from the east coast. That’s why the Canaries will never compete with the Caribbean. But that’s a good thing - Americans would wreck the place even more, lol!
During Covid they cried that nobody has money because there are no tourists
they they they
They? Who?
😍❤️❤️❤️
Over tourism pollutes and ultimately destroys
Non mi sarei mai aspettata un servizio così ipocrita da DW☹️. Se il turismo porta ricchezza perché gli abitanti non sono ricchi?
Why hypocritical? We report about what's going on there.
batman
This is nothing but a Blessing.
Improvise the Skyline with the Investments.
Vertical Affordable Housing is much Better!
Very ironic for a country that had some of the most devastating tourists to ever exist (conquistadors) to now be complaining about the tourists coming there.
Ignore this comment as this is a personal msg for someone
For Mel
My life is dull and meaningless too without you, my king. I can't wait for the day where we will talk about almost anything and we can do anything. In your arms is my home. 💜💜💋💋
Hahahaha
I was in Tenerife Santa Cruz la Laguna taco and sauzal very nice place to live
02:00 Foreign investment is the problem! ⛱