Protest or act of vandalism? Hundreds of deckchairs will be wasted
The negative attitude of locals towards tourists can be seen in many countries. Recently, in order to scare away visitors, a radical move was decided. Several hundred deckchairs were devastated.
An unpleasant incident took place in Tenerife. We are talking about one of the most popular Canary Islands, which attracts tourists both in summer and winter. Residents regularly complain about the excess of visitors and are less and less likely to hide their negative attitude towards them. The last protest against the phenomenon of overtourism turned into an act of vandalism.
Vandals in Tenerife against tourists
Unknown residents of Tenerife decided to destroy 230 plastic deckchairs. All this to show their dissatisfaction with excessive tourism. Losses after the act of vandalism were estimated at approximately PLN 5,000. euro. The perpetrators of this coin could not be identified.
The incident took place on the beaches of Las Vistas and El Camisón in Los Cristianos. It is located in the south of Tenerife, in a strict tourist zone with its own port. Specific slogans were written on the deckchairs available on site. “The Canary Islands are defending themselves” or “The Canary Islands are not for sale”. The walls of a nearby shopping center were also destroyed.
Although the protests themselves may seem understandable (due to the widespread use of short-term rentals, many residents have problems with renting an apartment), they also raise considerable controversy. Many people notice that destroying property does no good.
The protest criticized the government. The local community was appealed for help in identifying the perpetrators. “This is the biggest attack we have faced in eight years. Almost all the people using these loungers are vacationers. It was a direct attack on them and, consequently, on the local economy,” said Melián Pérez, president of one company repairing deckchairs.
There may be more protests
Recovery efforts are ongoing following the recent incident in Tenerife. Sunbeds are replaced and cleaned. Companies managing beach infrastructure are calling for the restoration of night patrols on beaches.
Protests against tourists have been taking place around the world for years. They have enough visitors, including: inhabitants of Majorca or other Balearic islands. They are also discouraged in Barcelona, Lisbon and Bali. Not only ordinary citizens are involved, but also the authorities. They are managed, among others: bans on building new hotels or new taxes. It is possible that a similar protest will take place in Tenerife in the future.
