Responsible tourism
in Tenerife & the Canary Islands
At Tulia Community Guesthouse, we love sharing the beauty of Tenerife and the Canary islands, welcoming guests from all around the world to (re)discover the wonderful nature and culture of this special place. Beyond being a guesthouse, we want to offer the people who stay with us the chance not only to visit, but to immerse themselves in local life. We are aware that mass tourism as it is now can’t continue, and it is important for us that our guests and community know more about the reality here. As actors in the travel/tourism industry, we understand our responsibility to stay informed, and to take the necessary steps to be part of the solution for a more conscious approach, for tourists and digital nomads/remote workers.
The Context
On Saturday, April 20th (2024), Canarians went into the streets in the Canary islands and also in Madrid, Barcelona & Berlin to denounce overpopulation and mass tourism in the islands, leading to destruction of the local environment and economy.
This is the first time that such a large-scale movement has taken shape, bringing together tens of thousands of people. The protests are supported by environmental groups such as Greenpeace, WWF, Ecologists in Action, Friends of the Earth and SEO/Birdlife.
Some of the issues
Canary islands are facing
POLLUTED OCEAN: In the Canaries, more than 200 million liters of sewage are dumped into the ocean every day. Due to this, beaches around the islands are closed daily, animals die and people get sick.
DROUGHT EMERGENCY: Tenerife has declared a drought emergency. In the Canaries, cuts have been imposed on local residents’ water use several times already this year, whilst hotel guests waste 6 times more water without facing restrictions.
OVERCROWDED: In 2023, the Canaries received 16 millions tourists (in comparison, Australia received 7.3 million international tourists for the same period). There are only 2 million local residents in the Canary islands, they do not have the infrastructure to deal with so many people.
LOCAL PEOPLE: The Canary islands are the second poorest region in Spain. 38% of the Canarian population is at risk of poverty and/or social exclusion. Contrary to popular belief, the current tourism model does not help the local population.
CANARIAN GOVERNMENT: Politicians are failing to uphold the law and environmental regulations by approving the construction of large-scale projects on the islands, which have severely damaged the environment.
ENVIRONMENT, FAUNA & FLORA: The construction of more illegal mega-projects every year are destroying archeological sites and protected onvironments. There projects are killing animals and endemic plants that make the Canary islands unique.
Proposal / Solutions
of Canarians
Moratorium on new touristic projects. Canarians demand that the government stop building more hotels, ports and tourism infrastructure. The islands have limited capacity which has already been reached.
Limit the number of tourists that visit the islands. Canary islands can’t physically take 16 million tourists a year. The islands do not have the capacity, and it is the local people and the environment that suffer the consequences.
Set an eco fee. Many other countries around the world ask tourists to pay a fee before entering. This eco fee will be used to protect and restore the land, fauna and flora in the years to come.
DISCLAIMER: we reiterate that Canary islands are NOT against tourists, they are against the current mass tourism model that is destroying the islands, their resources, and the standard of living for those who reside there. They are asking for support in persuading the Canarian government to transition to a more sustainable form of tourism, which would benefit the environment and the people of the Canary islands. The people who have lived there for generations and will continue to do so deserve a future in their homeland.
Dos and Don'ts
when visiting Tenerife
DO use public transport: on Tenerife, we're lucky to have a very well-connected and efficient bus system! It's possible to get to any part of the island without a car, whether it's Santa Cruz, Anaga, most of the beaches, Teide National Park or Masca. It takes a little more organization and time than taking the car, but you can enjoy the scenery, and you're helping to relieve traffic congestion!
DON'T go to huge resorts: they combine pollution and disrespect for local populations, and cut your stay off from the very essence of Tenerife, an island so close to nature.
DO choose responsible accommodation: whether it's farm stays, small hotels or guesthouses like ours that put respect, community and the environment at the heart of their project, or eco-responsible cottages.
DO support local industry:
Local restaurants: eat in small chiringuitos near the beaches, in guachinches (typical of Tenerife), in local restaurants. If you want to eat fish, we advise you to go to the Cofradias de pescadores, these fishermen's associations that offer fresh fish without over-fishing. If you want a haute cuisine experience, we can recommend some of the incredible Canarian chefs who have restaurants in the area.
Shopping: prefer small grocery stores and farmers' markets to large supermarkets.
Local artisans: if you want to buy gifts, souvenirs of the island, etc., look for local craftspeople and buy handmade items. There's a lot of talent on the Canary Islands! Be careful not to buy products containing endangered species, such as coral, turtle shells or exotic woods.
DO respect and support the local culture: learn a few basic words in Spanish to be able to communicate in everyday life, find out about local events and take part in them, sign up for yoga classes at a local studio or the local CrossFit, and so on. In short: go local rather than touristy.
DO explore nature with respect: Tenerife is a paradise for nature lovers, offering incredible and diverse landscapes for our enjoyment. But where there's nature, there's also nature to protect:
Hiking: respect the hiking trails, join a guided eco-tour to learn more about the island's nature and history. Avoid picking up stones and plants in protected areas such as the Anaga Forest or Teide Park.
Whale and dolphin watching: Tenerife is a unique place for marine wildlife lovers. Choose carefully or ask us before joining a whale and dolphin watching tour. Instead of turning to the big operators and big boats, there are smaller local companies offering safe experiences for marine life, aboard scientific boats that respect the animals and with marine conservationists who ensure a unique educational experience.
Combine nature with good deeds: there are many voluntary projects you can take part in on Tenerife, such as dog-walking with the local shelter, beach clean-ups organized at various locations, or ocean clean-ups organized by Scubanana for diving enthusiasts.
DO reduce your energy consumption and respect the No Trace rules:
Turn-off lights and electronics when you leave your accomodation, use water carefully (being on an island, we may be surrounded by water, but we have fewer resources than on the mainland)
Dispose your waste properly and DON'T litter in natural locations.
Admire wildlife from a distance, DON'T feed wild animals as it disrupts their natural behavior and harm their health.
To go Further
We warmly recommend you watch this 43-minute documentary (in Spanish with English subtitles):
Salvar Tenerife shows, as never before, the overexploitation to which the island of Tenerife is subjected. It receives more than 6 million tourists a year and has a population of 930,000 inhabitants. These figures are the result of the disastrous way in which the island has been managed during the last decades and at present. An infinite and unsustainable growth that is threatening more than ever the natural spaces and biodiversity of Tenerife, which is increasingly deteriorated. Directed by Felipe Ravina, this documentary aims to promote a change towards a real sustainable development, so that we can have a future in which we coexist with nature and can continue to enjoy Tenerife (and the rest of the Canary Islands) in its wild and natural state. For more information you can follow @salvartenerife on Instagram.