Tenerife takes desperate action over UK tourists and says 'it's good start'

Travel experts believe the Canary Islands, including Gran Canaria, Tenerife and Lanzarote, are facing economic chaos due to increasing tourism demands.

Worried Brits are ringing Tenerife hotels to see if they will be SAFE on the island in wake of anti-tourism protests - as locals vow to go on HUNGER STRIKE if construction of new hotels isn't halted. Travel experts believe the Canary Islands, including Gran Canaria, Tenerife and Lanzarote, are facing economic chaos due to increasing tourism demands.

UK tourists have been issued a fresh travel warning for the European Union holiday hotspot. Experts have claimed the Spanish holiday hotspots were on the verge of complete destruction due to tourist numbers and an overwhelming amount of urban development

Alocal claimed it was a "perfect storm" of bad planning and an unwillingness of locals. Moving to Spain 's Canary Island expert Nicola Quinn has lived in Tenerife for the last 20 years and says illegal Airbnbs are making life on the island "unsustainable".

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Nicola explained: "Significant tourist growth across many of the Canary Islands has absolutely had a massive impact over the last decade. Huge resort complexes owned by international brands are popping up wherever there’s any room left. These hotels are great because they create jobs for locals and, in the case of high-end luxury hotels, they attract high-spending tourists."

She continued: "But these hotels are just one consequence of the Canaries’ boost in tourism. Due to the high demand for tourist accommodation and the lenient long-term rental laws that favour squatters, property owners would much rather rent their apartments to tourists on sites like Airbnb instead of locals. It’s safer for them and they can earn more money.

"This has caused an archipelago-wide housing crisis, where people who have jobs simply cannot afford to rent accommodation. Finding something as simple as a studio for under €1,000 (£856) per month is practically impossible, unless you can afford to pay for 12 months’ rent upfront."

Nicole added: "Putting a restriction on tourist accommodation in the Canaries is a solution that many people favour, but I have my reservations. Cutting down on illegal Airbnb rentals would be an excellent start. I’ve personally stayed in six private properties throughout the Canaries this year and only two had the official licence needed to offer short-term rentals.

"Implementing stronger laws that make it safer for property owners to rent their apartments long-term while providing additional social housing would have a huge impact, too. I understand that you can’t put these changes into effect overnight. But the current situation is unsustainable. When the islands are booming with tourists but the locals who make sure they’re well taken care of can’t afford to have a roof over their heads, things need to change."