'Best time ever' in Tenerife as boss delivers blow to anti-tourism activists
The Canary Island of Tenerife is said to be "still buzzing" as thousands of families prepare to flock to the holiday hotspot for the Easter holidays despite a campaign against them
A tourism boss in the Canary Islands has delivered a three-word blow to "overtourism" protesters saying she's had her "best week ever".
Tenerife appears to be defying anti-tourism protests as thousands of families prepare to descend on the island for the Easter holidays. Despite a campaign aimed at deterring visitors, resorts are reportedly "packed" with tourists taking advantage of discounted prices.
Tara Scarlata, owner of a British-themed bar in Adeje, told The Sun that her establishment is filled to capacity day and night, noting that the island remains "still buzzing".
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She said: "We're busier than we've ever been... It's busy and summer season hasn't started yet. We just had our best week ever, celebrating St Patrick's Day and the Cheltenham Races."
The 40 year old entrepreneur observed that neither British nor Irish tourists seem deterred by the protests, which include graffiti warnings such as "Tourists Go Home".
The island has experienced a surge in protests and vandalism in recent months, driven by concerns over traffic congestion, housing affordability, and environmental strain due to the influx of millions of tourists annually. Incidents have included the vandalism of over 230 sunbeds on two popular beaches in Los Cristianos, as well as shocking footage of rental vehicles being set ablaze in the Costa Adeje resort.
In January, shocking graffiti scrawled with the words "Kill a tourist" was spotted on the side of a building in Tenerife, sparking concern among some residents that the demonstrations might be escalating to dangerous levels.
Crowds of demonstrators thronged Troya beach in Tenerife last October, brandishing signs and chanting, including the phrase "More tourists, more misery".
Back in April, a determined few activists undertook a hunger strike outside a church in La Laguna, which concluded after 20 days.
Local business owner Tara insisted that she, along with the island's other hospitality venues, certainly don't wish for tourists to leave. She highlighted that there's nothing alarming for visitors and that the local authorities need to channel funds into improved infrastructure and housing due to the island's expansion.
Bridgend native Brian Harrison, a 57 year old sound engineer who has called Tenerife home for three decades, has revealed that further protests are in the pipeline. He issued a stark warning that if the powers that be fail to tackle the pressing issues head-on, the situation will only deteriorate.
He declared: "The protests will continue and they will increase."
