Brits warned ‘to-go dwelling’ as anti-tourist protests erupt in prime vacation vacation spot
Holidaymakers heading to Tenerife and other Spanish hotspots are being warned as anti-tourist protests erupt just before Easter, with acts of vandalism including slashed tyres on rental cars
Tourism protests in Tenerife last year(Image: Tim Merry/Staff Photographer)
Holidaymakers should beware as some of their favourite destinations are coming out with strong anti-tourist sentiments. Protests have erupted once again, just in time for the Easter getaway.
Moreover, anti-tourist protests have been flaring up in Tenerife, Spain, just two weeks before the busy Easter holiday period. Vandals have already reportedly slashed the tyres of 11 holiday rental cars in the town of Sibora.
Spanish police have consequently launched an investigation into the attacks, which are believed to be linked to growing anger among locals over mass tourism.
The incident comes as tensions continue to rise on the island. In recent years, Tenerife has seen a surge in anti-tourism sentiment, with graffiti reading “Tourists go home”.
There have also been previous acts of vandalism, including the burning of 20 rental cars in Costa Adeje. One activist, Roberto Mesa, shared a video of the damage with the caption: “Peaceful means have been exhausted”.
Thousands of islanders have taken to the streets across the Canary Islands, demanding a cap on visitor numbers, the Sun reported. As a result of the ongoing tensions, more than half of British holidaymakers who usually visit the Spanish islands have reportedly chosen to go elsewhere this year.
The Sibora vandalism incident comes as Tenerife and Lanzarote have both landed on Fodor’s 2026 “No List”, not as a boycott, but as a warning about the islands’ struggle with unsustainable tourism levels and mounting environmental and social pressures.
Protest tactics have ranged from peaceful marches through major cities and tourist hotspots like Playa de las Américas, to more direct actions such as anti-tourist graffiti, beach-side chanting, and even temporary hunger strikes by activists.
While British holidaymakers remain the largest, and most visible, group of visitors to Tenerife, protest organisers insist their frustration is with the island’s tourism model rather than individual tourists, the Telegraph reported.
Locals are rallying against systemic issues such as soaring housing costs, water shortages, and low wages in the hospitality sector.
Although there have been isolated incidents of protesters confronting sunbathers and chanting slogans on beaches, many visitors still find the island welcoming overall.
In response to mounting unrest, authorities are rolling out new measures, including an eco-tax for Teide National Park visits starting in 2026 and proposed stricter regulations on holiday rentals to ease the housing crunch, Euronews reported.
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