The Local Police have evicted four Swiss tourists who had illegally set up camp in Parque La Granja in Santa Cruz, a popular and centrally located park in the capital of Tenerife.
The police received reports of their actions earlier this morning (Wednesday), so went to the location given where they found the four holidaymakers had strung up hammocks between trees and hung their clothes on makeshift washing lines, despite the park being a highly populated area with lots of passersby.
Because of this the police issued infringement notices and proceeded with the eviction ensuring the tourists dismantled their campsite and collected their belongings.
La Granja Park is known for its expansive grassy areas, facilities for various sports, a children's playground, a dog park, a café, and even municipal offices and the Casa de la Cultura. The tourists, however, disregarded the public nature of the space by attempting to camp overnight.
The incident highlights ongoing tensions in the Canary Islands regarding the uncontrolled growth of tourism. Some locals feel the region is "a victim of its own success" due to the model of mass tourism. This sentiment is fuelling movements like the 20A demonstrations, which recently called for a new wave of protests to occur in tourist areas after the summer, emphasising that "nothing has changed" in their concerns about the impact of tourism on the island's infrastructure and resources
Local authorities and residents are grappling with finding a balance between benefiting from tourism revenue and preserving the quality of life for inhabitants. As protests and activism continue to rise, it is clear that the region seeks more effective management strategies to address these complex challenges.
