The Canary Islands have been inundated by a ‘record-breaking’ number of visitors so far this year, according to local authority figures.
It’s a blow to the thousands of residents who have come out in force to protest against overtourism and poor working conditions in the hospitality sector.
The archipelago is overwhelmed with holidaymakers in high season, which is putting a strain on local services, bumping up housing costs and threatening the natural environment.
On Tenerife, authorities have announced that a new eco-tax will be introduced next year to protect a popular national park.
Canary Islands see ‘record-breaking’ visitor numbers in March
The Canary Islands received more than 1.55 million foreign visitors in March, up 0.9 per cent on the record set in the same month last year.
The figures were released by the Canary Islands National Statistics Institute (INE) on Monday, which added that the total number of international tourists for the first quarter of 2025 was 4.36 million, an increase of 2.1 per cent year-on-year.
INE also found the first quarter saw ‘the highest spending figures on record’, according to local news site Canarian Weekly.
In March alone, foreign visitors spent €2.43 billion, up 4.5 per cent compared to the same month in 2024. While this may reflect increasing interest in the destination, it is also a result of inflation, industry analysts say.
Canary Islands overtourism protests fail to curb soaring visitor numbers
The tourist influx comes despite dozens of protests staged last year by Canary Island residents against mass tourism.
Similar demonstrations have already taken place this year. Over Easter, around 80,000 hospitality workers in Tenerife, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro walked out in a dispute with unions over pay.
On 18 May, the group Canarias Tiene Un Límite (the Canaries have a limit) has planned a protest taking aim at governments and institutions for ignoring the calls of residents to clamp down on visitor numbers.
Tenerife introduces new eco-tax for tourists
A small step has been taken by authorities on Tenerife to mitigate the adverse effects of mass tourism.
The island is introducing an eco-tax in 2026 for non-residents visiting the Teide National Park.
The UNESCO world heritage site has seen unsustainable visitor numbers in recent years, leading to environmental damage, including pollution and erosion.
Private car access to the natural landmark will also be restricted next year, with electric shuttle buses provided instead.
The revenue from the visitor tax will be used to fund conservation projects, Rosa Davila, President of the Tenerife Cabildo, said on Monday.
