In the last few weeks, a small non-descript building on a beach in El Medano, in the south of Tenerife, has become the most famous building on the island. This is the building that started the controversy over tourism in Tenerife after someone painted “Tourist Go Home” on it leading it to go viral across the internet and even cause debates on UK television, but will any of them show it now that it has been painted over?
For the record, the message was used to get the government's attention about the problems for residents and citizens of the Canary Islands as a result of mass tourism, and was not aimed at the tourists themselves.
It certainly didn’t say ‘Brits Go Home’ as claimed by one media outlet, and yes, we all know how important British, German, Spanish, and Italian, in fact all tourists are to the islands, we’re the ones that live here and rely on tourism, we’re not that stupid… although maybe the odd person who wrote this and other slogans are? Or were they trying to get a reaction from the press? If they were, it worked.
The other questions being asked are “Is it safe to go to Tenerife?” Of course it is, it’s exactly the same as it always is! Should you boycott Tenerife – NO. Should you cancel your holiday – NO!
A year ago, the president of Lanzarote was quoted as saying the island was saturated with tourism and that we need a new sustainable model, which, ironically, is what this and the organised protests on April 20th (in 5 islands) are all about.
She also, rather foolishly, said that the island didn’t want any more “pound a pint” Brits which sparked similar controversy, reaction, and uproar. However, maybe that is also indirectly what this is about because although badly phrased, you know what she was trying to say!
And incidentally, Lanzarote has just had a record year for tourism!
