UK holidaymakers in Spain have been issued with a stark message by local residents to "go home", as the Spanish government looks poised to take action. With protests set to hit the sun-kissed Canary Islands, natives of popular tourist destinations Tenerife and Lanzarote voice their growing dissatisfaction with soaring "overtourism".
In response to the unrest, Spain's government has hinted at a crackdown - much to the bemusement of locals who reveal that a mere 2.4% of Spain's housing is public, significantly lower than the average 9% throughout Europe. In reaction to current discontent, Isabel Rodriguez confirmed the government is prepared to directly intervene.
Speaking candidly on Cadena Ser Radio, Housing Minister Ms Rodriguez conceded there was a gap of 1.5 million in public housing but remained hopeful that a solution could stabilise rental and sales prices.
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Echoing the struggles of locals, Jorge Marichal, president of regional hotel association ASHOTEL, expressed his sympathy on Spanish radio station COPE. Every year, millions of Britons flock to Lanzarote, Tenerife, Ibiza, Menorca and Majorca, whilst others prefer the metropolitan glamour of Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Malaga, Seville and beyond, reports Birmingham Live.
Marichal stated: "It pains me because people confuse the message. We don't have to be anti-tourist. What we have to do is demand infrastructures in accordance with the tourist model that's been chosen." He made these comments as he spoke out before the planned protests on April 20.
He further explained to the radio: "And we have to understand that the tourist model has changed because of technology and Airbnb and the fact property owners have converted those properties into businesses with very lax regulation and that the growth in the amount of tourist accommodation has not been matched by the investment in infrastructure."
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