Holding placards reading “People live here” and “We don’t want to see our island die,” demonstrators said changes must be made to the tourism industry that accounts for 35% of gross domestic product (GDP) in the Canary Islands archipelago.

The organizations say local authorities should temporarily limit visitor numbers to alleviate pressure on the islands’ environment, infrastructure, and housing stock, and put curbs on property purchases by foreigners.

“The authorities must immediately stop this corrupt and destructive model that depletes the resources and makes the economy more precarious. The Canary Islands have limits and people’s patience too,” said Alfonso Bullón, one of the protest’s leaders.

Among the protesters were six people on hunger strike, who attended the gathering on wheelchairs. The collective, based in La Laguna, is opposed to a hotel construction project on the beach of La Tejita, south of the Island of Tenerife. Saturday was their 10th day on hunger strike.

“It's not a message against the tourist, but against a tourism model that doesn’t benefit this land and needs to be changed,” added Tenerife resident Jefry Morales.

Authorities in the islands are concerned about the impact on locals. A draft law expected to pass this year toughening the rules on short lets follows complaints from residents priced out of the housing market.

Canary Islands president Fernando Clavijo said on Friday, April 19, he felt “proud” that the region was a leading Spanish tourist destination, but acknowledged that more controls were needed as the sector continues to grow.

Foreign visitors to the Canary Islands, an archipelago of 2.2 million people, reached 13.9 million in 2023, 13.1% more than in 2022, according to official data.