Brits are ditching their sunny escapes in Lanzarote and Tenerife, all thanks to a little-known EU regulation that’s come into force. The rule change within the European Union has led to UK holidaymakers “abandoning” their Canary Island retreats.
The new stipulation means British nationals can now only stay for 90 days at a stretch in Spain. This post-Brexit clampdown by the EU has left many UK expats who sought a sunnier life in places like Lanzarote and Tenerife feeling disillusioned and considering packing up.
This news emerges amidst widespread protests across the Canary Islands, with locals taking to the streets in their thousands to voice their opposition to mass tourism, declaring the islands “not for sale”. Islanders are demanding a temporary cap on tourist numbers, aiming to halt the surge in short-term vacation rentals and hotel developments that are pushing up property prices for residents.
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Placards proclaiming “We don’t want to see our island die”, “Stop Hotels” and “Canaries not for sale” were brandished as protestors made their feelings known. “It’s not a message against the tourist, but against a tourism model that doesn’t benefit this land and needs to be changed,” voiced one demonstrator in Tenerife’s capital, Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Antonio Bullon, another protestor in Tenerife, demanded: “The authorities must immediately stop this corrupt and destructive model that depletes the resources and makes the economy more precarious.”, reports Birmingham Live. “The Canary Islands have limits and people’s patience too.”
The islands’ president stated on Friday that he felt “proud” the region is a top Spanish tourist destination, but conceded more regulation is needed. The islands are home to two million residents, but see an influx of many more each year via holidaymakers.
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