MADRID, Oct 21 (Bernama-dpa) –- Approximately 10,000 people took to the streets of the Canary Islands in demonstrations opposing mass tourism, reported German news agency dpa quoting police estimates as reported by Spanish news agency Europapress on Sunday.
The protests on the resort-lined Spanish islands follow demonstrations in April when more than 55,000 people took to the streets, according to figures from officials.
The islands are a popular holiday destination among European travellers in winter, particularly due to their location off the northwest coast of Africa and their warm climate.
The latest demonstrations were held in the holiday resort of Maspalomas on Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, La Palma, and El Hierro, among other places.
Participants held up posters with slogans meaning "We are foreigners in our country" or "The Canary Islands are not a theme park."
Organisers denounced an "unjust and unsustainable" development model in the tourism sector, according to Europapress.
Mainland Spain also witnessed mass protests in spring and summer, as well as on the Balearic island of Mallorca.
The travel industry accounts for almost 14 per cent of Spain's economic output. On the Canary Islands it accounts for 35 per cent, on Mallorca even 45 per cent.
--BERNAMA- dpa
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