The Arona Town Hall have condemned a wave of vandalism that left more than 230 sun beds destroyed across two popular beaches in Los Cristianos in the south of Tenerife. The incidents occurred in the early hours of Thursday morning, targeting Las Vistas and El Camisón beaches.
Vandals also defaced the exterior walls of the nearby Arts shopping centre with graffiti bearing anti-tourism slogans such as “Canarias se defiende” (The Canary Islands defend themselves) and “Canarias no se vende” (The Canary Islands are not for sale).
According to the Arona Council, 100 sun beds were damaged at Las Vistas beach, while 136 were destroyed at El Camisón. The vandalism has drawn sharp criticism from local officials, including the mayor, Fátima Lemes, who described the actions as “an attack on the heritage of Arona” that harms both residents and visitors.
Speaking yesterday, Lemes stressed that such acts of vandalism are punishable by law and called on the public to assist in identifying those responsible. “The people of Arona are very conscious of protecting our environment, but unfortunately, there are always exceptions that threaten the common good, which is like attacking all of us,” she said.
The vandalism has caused significant disruption to local beaches, key attractions for tourists and a vital part of Arona's economy. Officials are now working to repair the damage and restore the area for public use.
The mayor urged residents and visitors to respect public property, including sun beds, green spaces, children’s playgrounds, waste bins, and recreational areas, elements she described as vital to maintaining Arona’s identity and appeal. She said that safeguarding the municipality's assets is a shared responsibility and encouraged citizens to report any information that could lead to the apprehension of the perpetrators.
