UK holidaymakers have reportedly "abandoned" their properties in the Canary Islands, including popular destinations like Lanzarote and Tenerife, due to a change in European Union rules. The new regulation limits UK citizens to spending only 90 days at a time in Spain, a rule that has come into effect years after the Brexit vote.
This has led to frustration among UK travellers who had relocated to the Canary Islands for a fresh start. This development follows recent protests on the Canary Islands against tourism, with thousands of locals taking to the streets to declare that the region is "not for sale". The residents are demanding a temporary cap on tourist arrivals in an attempt to curb the surge in short-term holiday rentals and hotel construction, which they argue is escalating housing costs for locals. Placards stating "We don't want to see our island die", "Stop Hotels" and "Canaries not for sale" were visible as thousands marched through the streets.
"The Canary Islands have limits and people's patience too." Meanwhile, the president of the islands expressed his pride on Friday about the region being a top Spanish destination for tourists, while conceding that tighter controls are necessary. Despite having a local population of two million, the Canary Islands attract significantly more visitors annually.