Tenerife warning for Brit tourists amid worrying threat before winter season

Travel experts in the area say Gran Canaria, Tenerife and Lanzarote on the Canary islands are facing economic chaos because of increasing tourism demands

A warning has been given to British tourists in Tenerife over a worrying threat before the winter season.

Reports have emerged of concerned travellers calling hotels over safety concerns following anti-tourism protests. The threat of 'hunger strike' been promised by local people unless the construction of new hotels is stopped. And travel experts reckon Gran Canaria, Tenerife and Lanzarote on the Canary islands are facing economic chaos because of increasing tourism demands. BirminghamLive reports a local saying it was a "perfect storm" of bad planning and an unwillingness of locals. Nicola Quinn, Moving to Spain's Canary Island expert has lived in Tenerife for the last 20 years and says illegal Airbnbs are making life on the island "unsustainable".

She said: "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. 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." Putting curbs on tourist accommodation in the Canaries is a solution that many people favour, but Nicola said has 'reservations' about that

She said cutting down on illegal Airbnb rentals would be an excellent start adding: "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." The Mirror reported in spring that more than 50,000 people stormed the streets of Tenerife, holding up signs that read: "You enjoy, we suffer". The protesters claim while Brits and other European tourists enjoy the beauty of their home, they're forced to battle extreme poverty and housing shortages. The hunger strikers, part of the "Canarias se exhausta" campaign group, originally said they had "no choice". Their statement read: "If we have reached this point it is because we have no other choice and because of the serious faults that our bad Government of the Canary Islands is committing."