canary islands travel strikes

Protesters in Spanish Canary Islands on hunger strike over mass tourism

• Published 5 days ago

Activists have begun a hunger strike on the island of Tenerife, in protest at what they see as the destructive growth of tourism on the Canary Islands.

Protesters are calling for a halt to the construction of a hotel and a beach resort in the south of the island.

They also want a moratorium on all tourism development projects.

The small group of hunger strikers began their protest on Thursday night after a deadline for local authorities to discuss the matter expired.

The move is part of a wider protest movement across the islands, calling itself Canarias Se Agota , or The Canaries Have Had Enough.

"Either [the local authorities] listen or these people are going to put their lives at risk," Rubén Pérez Flores, a spokesman for Canarias Se Agota, told local media.

A series of protests are being organised across the archipelago next weekend.

A total of 13.9 million tourists visited the Canary Islands in 2023, according to local chamber of commerce figures, 13% more than the year before. That is about six times more than the islands' population of 2.2 million.

The biggest tourist markets for the islands are the UK and Germany, although they are also a popular destination for mainland Spaniards.

The building of the La Tejita hotel and the Cuna del Alma resort, which have been the targets of campaigners' anger, have been beset by legal issues.

Work on both projects was interrupted due to environmental concerns before resuming.

This week, Spain's Congress voted not to halt the construction of the Cuna del Alma project despite protests outside the parliament building. The left-wing Podemos party had warned that the 400-villa resort was being built "on one of the last virgin zones" of the Tenerife coast.

The Canarias Se Agota movement believes the numbers of tourists are excessive, making the islands less inhabitable for locals, impacting the environment and pushing up housing costs.

In 2023, 34% of Canary Islanders were at risk of poverty or social exclusion, the second-highest figure in Spain after Andalusia, according to the National Statistics Institute (INE).

"What we're asking for is for no more development," said filmmaker Felipe Ravina in a video explaining the protestors' grievances. He said a moratorium on new tourism projects would give the Canary Islands a chance to reconsider their economic model.

"Ironically, it is tourism itself which is destroying the very same product which it is selling," he said.

• More from Guy: Ibiza locals living in cars as party island sees rents soar

Anti-tourist graffiti has been daubed on walls in some parts of the Canary Islands recently, reflecting growing anger.

Other areas of Spain are seeing similar concerns about tourism. In Barcelona, campaigners are calling for more controls on arrivals. Authorities in Ibiza blame illegal tourist flats for a housing crisis which has left some local professionals sleeping in their cars.

The Chamber of Commerce of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the island's capital, said in a social media post that it believed "in the need to reflect on the future" of the tourism industry.

However, it warned against what it called "tourism-phobia", given that the industry makes up 35% of the archipelago's GDP and 40% of its jobs.

Fernando Clavijo, regional president of the Canary Islands, underlined their reliance on tourism, describing it as a "successful model".

However, he admitted that the upcoming demonstrations on 20 April presented an opportunity to review that model.

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• Canary Islands

More on this story

Ibiza locals living in cars as party island sees rents soar

• Published 6 April

‘My misery, your paradise’: Canary Island residents say mass tourism is at breaking point

Activists say locals are being forced to sleep in their cars and even caves.

Residents in the Canary Islands are planning protests and strikes in a backlash against overtourism.

Campaigners say the unsustainable influx of visitors is ruining life in the holiday hotspot.

One activist group on the island of Tenerife has planned a hunger strike over the construction of two new hotels.

Others report locals sleeping in cars and caves due to soaring house prices.

Graffiti has appeared on buildings and a rental car telling tourists to 'go home'. 

In 2023, the archipelago attracted 14.1 million foreign visitors, a record for the island group.

Canary Island residents plan hunger strike over hotel development

Demonstrators in Tenerife have organised a hunger strike this week over two new hotel developments.

Authorities had halted work on Hotel La Tejita and Cuna del Alma in Tenerife’s Puertito de Adeje over environmental breaches but construction has recently resumed.

Canarias Se Agota (Canaries Sold Out) also plans to hold demonstrations on 20 April in Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and La Palma under the tagline ‘The Canaries have a limit’.

Canarias se exhausta (The Canary Islands are exhausted) is another key group behind the plans for the islands-wide protests .

“We in these islands have always been very welcoming to tourists. But we want more sustainable tourism,” Ruben Zerpa, of Canaries Sold Out, told UK newspaper i.

“Tenerife is a small island with limited resources. The roads are overwhelmed with traffic, there is a hydraulic emergency going on and hotels are full.”

Canary Island residents are living in their cars

Zerpa added that tourism has forced up rental prices making it unaffordable for many local residents.

“I earn about €900 and live with my partner but the rent is €800 per month. That is Santa Cruz, which is not even one of the most expensive parts of the island,” he said.

“Airbnb and Booking.com are like a cancer that is consuming the island bit by bit.”

Ivan Cerdena Molina, who is helping organise the protests, told local news outlet The Olive Press that locals are being forced to sleep in their cars and even caves as housing gets snapped up by tourism operators.

“We have nothing against individual tourists but the industry is growing and growing and using up so many resources and the island cannot cope,” he said.

• Tourist taxes, bus bans and TikTok: How Europe’s popular cities are tackling overcrowding
• ‘Go f*cking home’: The European cities where locals are fighting back against overtourism

One local organisation said the islands are “collapsing socially and environmentally” under the pressure from mass tourism .

A report from Ecologists in Action warned that almost 34 per cent of the local population - nearly 800,000 people - are at risk of poverty or social exclusion.

The floods of holidaymakers to the Canaries are also putting pressure on health services, waste management, water supplies and biodiversity.

Canaries residents erect signs to ward off tourists

Residents have put up fake ‘closed to overcrowding’ posters and stickers in an attempt to deter tourists in certain overcrowded places.

‘Do not enter’ signs appeared near popular beauty spots on the island of Lanzarote last month, with some areas chained off.

“It is time to boycott, with the tools at our disposal, the tourist activity that is expelling us from our own land,” activists wrote on social media.

Near other popular attractions, anti-tourism graffiti has appeared reading ‘My misery your paradise’ and ‘Tourist go home’.

This week, photos were posted on social media of a rental car spray painted with the words 'go home'.

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Canary Islands protestors stage hunger strike in Tenerife over mass tourism impacts

• Canary Islands
• Friday 12 April 2024 at 1:51pm

Videos posted on social media show hundreds of protestors linking arms to form a human chain on Tenerife (Credit: Canarias Se Agota)

Protestors in Tenerife have begun a hunger strike as part of a wider campaign demanding the Canary Islands government tackle the effects of excess tourism in the region.

On Thursday, members of the Canarias Se Agota group staged a demonstration at La Laguna Cathedral, with hundreds of people linking arms to form a human chain.

The protest coincided with the start of what the group has called an "indefinite" hunger strike by an unknown number of its members.

Canarias Se Agota says it is taking action due to Tenerife's "tourist monoculture" which "squeezes natural resources, destroys the territory and deteriorates the quality of life of the local population".

Tenerife is the largest of Spain's Canary Islands and is a popular holiday destination for Britons.

Footage posted on social media by Canarias Se Agota showed a long, winding queue of protestors outside La Laguna Cathedral, with many holding placards.

Politicians in the region are being asked to step in and control what has been dubbed the effects of mass tourism on the island, including a lack of affordable housing and environmental pollution.

ITV News has contacted Canarias Se Agota and the Canary Islands government for comment.

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'A cancer consuming the island': Canaries on hunger strike to protest overtourism

Residents of the Spanish Canary Islands have been calling for a 24-hour hunger strike to protest what they claim is an uncontrolled explosion of tourists.

The collection of seven islands, including Tenerife, Lanzarote and Gran Canaria, have seen tourism increase rapidly over the past few decades.

Now, groups including Canarias Se Agota (The Canary Islands Sold Out) have suggested a hunger strike to demonstrate their dissatisfaction with the state of overtourism. Some residents feel they have been priced out of their own islands with the arrival of hotels and holiday villas. Canaroas Se Agota says the islands are being starved of resources by international visitors.

Following a call for a hunger strike on April 11, the group has been joined by another group, Canaria se Exhausts (The Canary Islands are Exhausted), which says it has a second islands-wide strike planned for April 20.

The particular targets of the protest are two hotels being constructed on Tenerife.

On Sunday, organisers said the call had inspired people throughout Spain, with the message of overtourism striking a chord as far as Catalonia and the Balearic Islands.

“The support of the people has been wonderful,” they said, adding that some colleagues had already been on a four-day fast while they waited to hear from the hotels’ owners or local officials.

“The inaction of the government of the Canary Islands is shameful.”

In the past decade the number of international arrivals has jumped by a fifth to more than 14 million visitors a year.

The two new buildings, Puertito de Adeje-Hotel La Tejita and Hotel Cuna del Alma, have become totemic to the issue after residents resorted to sleeping in cars and even caves due to soaring house prices.

Speaking to Euronews, protesters for Canarias Se Agota said the islands were at their limit.

“We have nothing against individual tourists, but the industry is growing and growing and using up so many resources, and the island cannot cope,” said protest organiser Ivan Cerdena Molina.

Molina said he and his partner struggled to afford their apartment and spent most of their shared €900 ($1620) monthly income on €800 of rent, even in a cheaper part of Santa Cruz.

“Airbnb and Booking.com are like a cancer that is consuming the island bit by bit,” he said.

Ecologists in Action recently warned that almost 800,000 people — over a third of the islands — are at risk of poverty. Pressures and pricing from mass tourism were a factor in this.

Along with organised protests scheduled for this week, some residents have taken matters into their own hands with “guerilla” measures.

Recently, visitors to the islands reported fake signage appearing at beaches and popular areas reading “closed due to overtourism”.

Some graffiti is far more to the point: Last month city officials had to remove the slogan “Tourist go home” painted on the waterfront barriers.

This article was originally posted on the NZ Herald here.

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Warning of ‘significant disruption’ to tourist transfers in Canary Islands

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Holidaymakers in the Canary Islands face “significant disruption” due to the first in a series of coach and bus driver strikes from today (Monday).

Transfers to and from ports and airports and tourist excursion services are expected to be hit on three islands.

The Foreign Office issued a warning in updated travel advice.

The action has been called by transport sector employees across Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura amid failed negotiations between them and transport companies.

Walkouts are to be staged throughout the month, starting today and on October 4, 7, 9, 11, 14, 16, 18, 21, 23, 25 and 28 October, ending at midnight.

“Significant travel disruption is expected” due to the road transport strikes due to be held throughout October.  

Drivers of coaches and buses have threatened to continue strike action indefinitely from November onwards if no agreement is reached, local media reported.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) said: “If you are on holiday in Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura and needing to travel or use road transport, we encourage you to contact your tour operator or transport company as soon as possible for more information to understand how this strike may impact your travel arrangements.  

“The government of the Canary Islands has confirmed that transportation to hospitals and medical centres will be maintained, as well as transport of medicines and other urgent supplies to guarantee the life, health and security of people.”

Jet2holidays said: “Please allow plenty of time to travel to the airport and pass through the terminal.

“Check-in will close 40 minutes prior to your scheduled time of departure as all our flights are due to operate as scheduled.”

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Canary Islands transport strikes lead to holiday transfer chaos

Tourist coaches in gran canaria , lanzarote and fuerteventura are affected by the strikes.

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Canary islands facing prolonged road transport strikes, fcdo warns.

The Foreign Office has issued a travel warning for the Canary Islands as a series of road transport strikes are due to be held throughout October.

More than 15,000 road transport workers in Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura will down tools from Monday (2 October) throughout the whole month – including on 4, 7, 9, 11, 14, 16, 18, 21, 23, 25 and 28 October – after negotiations over salary increases broke down at the weekend.

The government has nevertheless assured minimum service levels will be guaranteed, with transportation to hospitals and medical centres maintained. 

“If you are on holiday in Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura and needing to travel or use road transport, we encourage you to contact your tour operator or transport company as soon as possible for more information to understand how this strike may impact your travel arrangements,” the Foreign Office said.

Meanwhile, Jet2 told customers to "allow plenty of time to travel to the airport".

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Foreign Office warns of ‘significant disruption’ in Canary Islands

The Foreign Office is urging travellers to Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura to contact their tour operator asap to find out if their plans will be hit by transport strikes starting this week.

The 24-hour-long strikes start today (2 October )and will also run on 4, 7, 9, 11, 14, 16, 18, 21, 23, 25 and 28 October.

In an update issued on Sunday, the Foreign Office said: “If you are on holiday in Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura and needing to travel or use road transport, we encourage you to contact your tour operator or transport company as soon as possible for more information to understand how this strike may impact your travel arrangements.

“Significant travel disruption is expected.”

Jet2 has confirmed that its flights are due to operate as normal, but it is advising customers to allow ‘plenty of time’ to travel to the airport

The Canary Islands Government has confirmed that transportation to hospitals and medical centres will be maintained, as well as transport of medicines and other urgent supplies to guarantee the life, health and security of people, it added.

Meanwhile, Jet2 is continuing to warn of ongoing strikes taking place at Spain’s Alicante airport for the next four months.

It said the strikes, supported by the airport’s security services, could lead to potential queues at security checkpoints.

The strikes will take place for an hour in the mornings and evening on the following dates:

October: 1, 3, 6 – 15, 17, 20- 22, 24, 27 – 29, & 31

November: 1– 5, 7, 10–12, 14, 17–19, 21, 24–26 & 28

December: 1-10, 12,1 5-17, 19, 22 -31

January 2024: 1– 14

Jet2 is advising passengers to allow plenty of time to pass though the airport. It says flights are due to operate as scheduled.

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Flight Delays and Air Traffic Control Strikes: What You Should Know

Monday, July 17th, 2023

Travellers going to and from Gran Canaria and other European destinations are concerned about recent events with air traffic control strikes at Eurocontrol and aircraft disruptions. Here is the most recent info on the circumstance.

What Eurocontrol does

The European agency in charge of safeguarding the security of air navigation is called Eurocontrol. It coordinates the management of air traffic throughout Europe, enabling smooth passage through the airspace of various nations. An average of 33,000 planes per day are planned to go across European airspace during the course of the next eight weeks. This number may even approach 34,000 flights on days with heavy traffic, like Fridays. The network manager operations centre (NMOC) of Eurocontrol, which is crucial to simplifying air traffic control operations across the continent, is impacted by the current disagreement.

Status of the strike and its potential effects

No verified strikes have yet occurred. Employees at the Eurocontrol operations centre are represented by the Union Syndicale Bruxelles (USB), which has issued a “pre-warning” regarding prospective strike action in the upcoming six months. There has been no announcement of precise strike dates because negotiations are still going on.

The repercussions of a walkout are not yet known, despite numerous headlines forecasting substantial air transport disruptions in the case of a strike. The management of Eurocontrol’s activities would face difficulties in the event of a USB strike, although airspace is expected to remain open. As a result, the effects of an NMOC strike on passengers might be mitigated.

Airline cancellations

In a recent report, EasyJet stated that 1,700 flights, or about 2% of all of its flights scheduled for July and August, have been cancelled. The airline ascribed this proactive modification to the “challenging air traffic environment.” Most of the affected travellers have already been rescheduled on different flights. In June, Ryanair also had to cancel almost 900 flights, mostly because of strikes by French air traffic controllers.

Keeping yourself informed

Despite the possibility of problems, it’s critical to avoid overreacting to the situation due to sensational headlines. The best advise for travellers is to be updated by checking official statements from airlines, air traffic control agencies, and dependable news sources as negotiations and conversations progress. Check with your airline as well if there are any changes, as they can provide you the most precise and recent information about your journey.

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Foreign Office issue travel warning for Lanzarote, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura holidays

The UK Foreign Office has updated its guidance for people travelling to the three Spanish islands, warning of 'significant disruption'

• 16:40, 14 OCT 2023

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Jetsetters have been warned their holidays could be impacted by road transport strikes across the Canary Islands.

According to the Foreign Office (FCDO), the strikes are expected to cause a "significant travel disruption". The strikes are due across Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote throughout October , reports Cambridgeshire Live .

The Foreign Office is encouraging holidaymakers heading to these destinations to contact their tour operators or transport companies "as soon as possible", to find out the likely impact on their travel arrangements.

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The strikes began on October 2 and were planned for 11 further dates. The upcoming dates are October 14, 16, 18, 21, 23, 25 and 28. Transport to hospitals and medical centres is expected to be maintained, as well as the movement of medicines and other urgent supplies.

This follows another strike warning from Jet2 to holidaymakers heading to Spain from now until January 2024. Travellers have been told to check the airline's website at least 12 hours before their flight for the latest on the strike action.

Find Foreign Office travel advice for Spain on the GOV.UK website here .

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Foreign Office issues travel warning for Spanish holiday hotspot

Brits have been warned of 'significant travel disruption' in Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura

• by Liv Clarke
• 09:37, 13 Oct 2023

British holidaymakers heading to destinations in the Canary Islands this month have been warned of ‘significant travel disruption’ as bus and coach drivers go on strike. Road transport works will walk out across various dates this month in Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura.

The Foreign Office has advised Brits on holiday at the popular locations to contact their tour operator or transport company to check how the industrial action will impact their travel plans. Workers began the strike action with an initial walkout on October 2 followed by several other dates, with more planned in the coming weeks.

According to the Canary Islands Government website, strike action is set to take place on October 14, 16, 18, 21, 23, 25 and 28. During the strike days transport to hospitals and medical centres is expected to be maintained, as well as the movement of medicines and other urgent supplies.

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In its travel advice for Spain, the Foreign Office said: “If you are on holiday in Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura and needing to travel or use road transport, we encourage you to contact your tour operator or transport company as soon as possible for more information to understand how this strike may impact your travel arrangements. Significant travel disruption is expected.”

The warning comes after Jet2 warned passengers heading to Alicante in the coming months of ‘potential congestion’ at the airport as ground handling staff go on strike. On strike days staff will walk out for two hours each day and dozens of dates have been announced, beginning in September and lasting until January 2024.

For more of today's top stories, click here.

Warning Issued To UK Holidaymakers Visiting These Parts Of Spain

It’s been a tough year for UK holidaymakers. From the enormous flight delays this summer to news of upcoming passport fees, it feels a little bit like taking a break is becoming a part-time job.

Recently, the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) issued a warning to Brits who intend to travel to certain parts of Spain.

The travel alert came about as road transport strikes have been announced in the Canary Islands this October. This means that getting to and from airports might become difficult at these times.

So, we thought we’d share where the strikes are set to happen, what we know so far about how they’ll affect the roads, and when they’re scheduled to occur.

The strikes are set to take place in Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, and Fuerteventura

If you’re planning a trip to Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, or Fuerteventura this October, you may run into road strikes, gov.uk has warned .

“If you are on holiday in Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura and needing to travel or use road transport, we encourage you to contact your tour operator or transport company as soon as possible for more information to understand how this strike may impact your travel arrangements,” the FCDO says.

However, if you are staying in one of these countries during the strikes, you will at least be able to access emergency services.

“The Government of the Canary Islands has confirmed that transportation to hospitals and medical centres will be maintained, as well as transport of medicines and other urgent supplies to guarantee the life, health and security of people,” the warning reads .

OK, so when will this start (and when will it end?)

It’s meant to start at midnight tonight and is set to continue intermittently until 00:00 on the 28th of October.

There will be breaks between road strike days. ”[The strikes] are due to commence at 00:00 on the 2 October and will run on 4, 7, 9, 11, 14, 16, 18, 21, 23, 25 and 28 October, ending at 24:00,” gov.uk shared .

Even if you’re planning to visit Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, or Fuerteventura on a non-strike day, the government still advises you to check ahead with any relevant authorities as “significant travel disruption is expected.”

Travel isn’t the only problem you might face if you’re planning to visit Spain soon

The government is also advising tourists to keep the current European heatwave in mind before arriving in certain parts of Spain.

Certain areas of the country (you can check them here ) are experiencing unusually high heat at the moment, so it’s important to keep an eye on how you’re handling the hot weather. You can see the NHS’ advice on how to stay safe in a heatwave here .

Spain travel warning issued for Lanzarote, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura holidays

The UK Foreign Office has updated its guidance for people travelling to the three Spanish islands, warning of 'significant disruption'

• 10:39, 4 OCT 2023
• Updated 10:53, 4 OCT 2023

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New travel advice has been issued for three top tourist spots popular with British holidaymakers heading off in search of some autumn and winter sunshine. The UK Foreign Office has updated its guidance for Spain to warn people about 'significant disruption' on the islands of Lanzarote, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura.

Transport strikes started this week on Monday, October 2, on these three tourist destinations, which are part of the Canary Islands. The industrial action is continuing on numerous other dates across the month.

In an update to its Spain travel advice, the Foreign Office said: "Road transport strikes are due to be held across Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura throughout October. They are due to commence at 00:00 on the 2 October and will run on 4, 7, 9, 11, 14, 16, 18, 21, 23, 25 and 28 October, ending at 24:00."

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"The Government of the Canary Islands has confirmed that transportation to hospitals and medical centres will be maintained, as well as transport of medicines and other urgent supplies to guarantee the life, health and security of people."

The Foreign Office update added: "If you are on holiday in Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura and needing to travel or use road transport, we encourage you to contact your tour operator or transport company as soon as possible for more information to understand how this strike may impact your travel arrangements. Significant travel disruption is expected."

It follows another strike warning from Jet2 to holidaymakers heading to Spain from now until January 2024. Travellers have been told to check the airline's website at least 12 hours before their flight for the latest on the strike action.

A statement on the Jet2 website said: "We wanted to let you know that a ground handling strike action is taking place on the following dates listed below. This is supported by the security service at Alicante Airport and this may mean potential congestion in security.

"It would be one hour in the morning from 8.45am to 9.45am local time and one hour in the evening from 6pm to 7pm between September 2023 to January 2024."

The following dates will be impacted by strike action:

October: 1, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 20, 21, 22, 24, 27, 28, 29 and 31

November: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 11, 12, 14, 17, 18, 19, 21, 24, 25, 26 and 28

December: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 15, 16, 17, 19, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31

January: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14

• Spain travel
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Strikes That Can Affect Your European Travel Plans

Strikes, a common occurrence in Europe, are poised to disrupt travel plans across the continent. Employees are advocating for improved pay.

Rafael Peña • Oct 27, 2023

A common occurrence in Europe , strikes are poised to disrupt travel plans across the continent. Employees are withholding their labor, advocating for improved pay and working conditions. While some strikes are meticulously planned for months, others are announced at the eleventh hour, necessitating a proactive approach for travelers.

This overview can help you plan ahead to know when, where, and what disruptions you can expect.

France: Paris Transport Strikes Amid Rugby World Cup

Where : Stade de France, Saint-Denis

As the Rugby World Cup unfolds at Stade de France, Saint-Denis, Paris Metro workers threaten strike action. The crux of the issue centers on station staff, who have not been offered additional pay, unlike train drivers who are set to receive a bonus in recognition of their service. The strike threat looms large, with members of the FO-RATP trade union, representing public transport workers in Paris , demanding redress. Negotiations are currently underway to address this contentious matter.

England: Heathrow Baggage Staff Avert Strike

When : Strikes between October 20-30 called off

London’s Heathrow Airport was at risk of baggage carousel workers staging strikes in October, significantly impacting autumn travel. However, a last-minute pay agreement has led to the cancellation of these strikes. The Unite union, representing the workers at Vanderlande, the company responsible for maintaining baggage carousels at Heathrow airport, has successfully resolved the dispute by securing an increased pay offer.

Spain: Security Staff Ground Flights in Alicante

When : Multiple dates, spanning October to January

Where : Alicante-Elche Airport

Private security staff at Alicante-Elche airport have announced a series of strikes, set to unfold over the coming months, driven by concerns related to working conditions and compensation. Ilunion Seguridad employees will be on strike from late October through January. The protracted strike period is expected to affect airport operations and passenger travel throughout the region.

Transport Strikes in the Canary Islands

When : Ongoing and multiple dates throughout October

Where : Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, and Fuerteventura

Transport workers across Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, and Fuerteventura are currently involved in strike actions, creating a ripple effect on travel services in the region. Coach and bus drivers participate, impacting transportation to and from ports and airports. Tourist excursion services on the three islands are also expected to experience disruptions. The strikes commenced on October 2 and are set to continue on various dates throughout the month, including October 14, 16, 18, 21, 23, 25, and 28. Travelers should remain vigilant and consider possible travel alternatives during these dates.

The strikes across Europe underscore the importance of staying informed and planning when traveling during potentially tumultuous periods. Should your travel plans be affected by cancellations or delays, you must be aware of your rights, including the possibility of compensation or rebooking options.

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Jet2 issues Spain travel warning to anyone flying to tourist hotspot in October

Airline Jet2 has warned travellers heading to the Canary Islands in October that they could face transport delays.

A local transport strike is planned to take place throughout the whole month in the Spanish archipelago. According to local reports, the strikes are expected to have a significant impact on tourist services in many popular areas such as Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, and Fuerteventura.

The strikes are set to start from today (October 2) and will continue on a further 12 dates across the rest of the month. Anyone flying with jet2 are also urged to contact their local tour operator or transport company if they strikes affect them in any way while on holiday.

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An update titled 'transportation strike affecting the Canary Islands' on Jet2 website reads: "We wanted to let you know that a Local Transport Strike is taking place on the following dates listed below. October: 2nd, 4th, 7th, 9th, 11th, 14th, 16th, 18th, 21st, 23rd, 25th and 28th.

"Please allow plenty of time to travel to the airport and pass through the terminal. Check-in will close 40 minutes prior to your scheduled time of departure as all our flights are due to operate as scheduled. "

The Foreign Office also issued advice to holidaymakers over the weekend . It said: "The Government of the Canary Islands has confirmed that transportation to hospitals and medical centres will be maintained, as well as transport of medicines and other urgent supplies to guarantee the life, health and security of people."

It added: "If you are on holiday in Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura and needing to travel or use road transport, we encourage you to contact your tour operator or transport company as soon as possible for more information to understand how this strike may impact your travel arrangements. Significant travel disruption is expected."

Popular destination for British holiday makers 'collapsing socially and environmentally'

The sunny getaway spot sees huge numbers of tourists every year - but locals say it is too much and warned they are 'living in their cars and even in caves'.

Tuesday 9 April 2024 13:30, UK

A popular sunny British holiday destination is "collapsing socially and environmentally" due to the huge numbers of tourists, residents say.

Locals on the Canary Islands are "living in their cars or even in caves" due to soaring housing prices. Now they are gearing up to protest.

The group of Spanish islands, located off the coast of Africa , are hugely popular with Britons, with nearly five million jetting out last year.

But now local groups are mobilising and protests are planned for 20 April.

Organisers claim one of the islands "is collapsing socially and environmentally" because it cannot cope with the numbers of tourists.

A recent report from environmental group Ecologists in Action warned of "unsustainable tourism" to the Canary Islands.

Despite the new tourism records being set year after year, generating millions of euros for the industry, almost 34% of the local population, nearly 800,000 people, are at risk of poverty or social exclusion, the report said.

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"Next Saturday, 20 April, we will take to the streets to once again demand what is common sense; control a situation that suffocates us and expels us from our own territory," it added.

There have also been reports of locals putting up fake "closed to overcrowding signs" in a bid to ward off tourists.

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Read more: 1,000 migrants reach Canary Islands in three days

Ivan Cerdena Molina, who is helping organise the protests, told local news outlet The Olive Press: "We have nothing against individual tourists but the industry is growing and growing and using up so many resources and the island cannot cope.

"It's a crisis, we have to change things urgently, people are living in their cars and even in caves, and locals can't eat, drink or live well."

President of the Canary Islands Fernando Clavijo urged activists to "use common sense".

"What we cannot do is attack our main source of employment and wealth because it would be irresponsible," he told local media.

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