By Eleanor EWN • Published: 27 Aug 2024 • 18:07 • 3 minutes read
Tourists in Tenerife don't always cover themselves in glory, enraging the locals. Credit: jjalonso. X.
Brian Harrison, a British immigrant who’s lived for 30 years in Tenerife, is leading the “Salvar La Tejita” group against the impact of mass tourism on the island.
Brian Harrison, a British immigrant living in Tenerife, has found himself at the centre of a heated debate over mass tourism on the popular Spanish island. As the secretary general of Salvar La Tejita, a group advocating for restrictions on tourism, Harrison has become a prominent figure in the anti-tourism movement.
Harrison – originally from Bridgend, South Wales – who has lived in Spain for over 30 years, has faced accusations of hypocrisy for leading the campaign while benefitting from the tourism industry himself. However, he argues that his long-term residency and deep connection to the island entitle him to advocate for its protection.
‘I’ve never really felt like I belonged anywhere,’ the 57-year-old.
‘I didn’t just go on holiday to Spain and stay there, I made a plan to move here when I was in my early twenties and I’ve lived here for most of my life,’ he said.
Harrison admitted that his involvement could seem ironic, but argues that the number of years he’s lived in Tenerife means he’s concerned about issues that impact the island: his home.
‘Why wouldn’t anyone want to take care of a place they’ve lived in for over 30 years?’ the Welsh engineer said.
Harrison denies that the group is against tourism, explaining that they take issue with the sheer number of people flocking to his adopted home. Certainly the figures seem to back him up, showing that Spain received more than 11 million international visitors in July alone– 2.6 of which came from the UK. This is a 8.6% rise from 2023.
The Tenerife residents also explained that the number of tourists coming to Tenerife each year has skyrocketed from around two million when he arrived to six million now.
‘The problem is not the people who come here, but the huge numbers of people who come, the volume,’ he said.
‘For an island that has limited space, it is unsustainable. This is the problem,’ he said.
Speaking on Good Morning Britain, Mr Harrison said: ‘Tourists are always welcome here, there will be no hostility. But obviously action needs to be taken.
The government has had three decades to deal with this problem and it has gotten worse every year. This is the last resort for the government to take notice.’
He added that the authorities ‘have to take action to limit tourism, to make tourism sustainable.’
The Welsh engineer argued that ‘there is no economic model that shows that limiting tourism and increasing the quality of tourism has a negative impact.’
‘On the contrary, many destinations like Mallorca, Barcelona, other places in Europe, all have a tourist tax and there is no negative impact at all, neither economic nor otherwise,’ he said.
Thousands of Spaniards have taken to the streets across the country as part of anti-tourism protests, including in the Canary Islands, Balearics, and Barcelona. In one viral incident, unsuspecting tourists were even sprayed with water guns by angry locals.
The Canaries, along with other popular Spanish destinations, have witnessed a surge in tourism in recent years, leading to concerns about overcrowding, infrastructure strain, and the erosion of local culture. Protests have erupted across the country, with demonstrators demanding stricter regulations and a more sustainable approach to tourism.
Harrison’s group, Salvar La Tejita, is particularly concerned about the impact of large-scale hotel development on the island’s natural environment. The construction of a new hotel in the protected area of La Tejita has sparked intense opposition from locals, who argue that it threatens the island’s delicate ecosystem.
While Harrison acknowledges the economic benefits of tourism, he emphasises the need for sustainable practices and responsible development. He believes that limiting the number of visitors and investing in infrastructure can help mitigate the negative impacts of mass tourism.
The debate over tourism in Spain continues to intensify, with local communities demanding a greater say in how their destinations are developed. As the country grapples with the challenges and opportunities presented by the tourism industry, finding a balance between economic growth and environmental protection remains a top priority.
This is a topic that is bound to interest expats and immigrants all over Spain. Do you think newcomers have a right to take part in anti-tourism protests, or do you think it’s hypocritical? Leave a comment below!
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Very shoddy journalism. If you had left out the word Hypocrite from the headline it would have been a good piece of work. As for the subject, he is right as we who live and have lived for years in these places well know.
Hi John. Thanks for taking the time to read the article and comment. The fact that people are accusing him of hypocrisy is key to the debate, which you engaged with yourself. The knee-jerk reaction to an immigrant complaining about more people coming to his adopted home is that they’re a hypocrite. Indeed, that is how the story was largely reported in the press. However, as the article explained- and as you’ve also commented- people who have lived in a place for many years have lived experience of the problems at hand and have every right to engage in the issues that affect them and their homes. Rather than shoddy journalism, I would argue that it’s a fair assessment of the reaction that Mr Harrison received. The article then goes on to present a balanced perspective on the debate.
John, you are very correct the person has lived there for the past 30 years. He has the right to voice his opinion, the big problem I believe is the locals are being pushed out , with people buying properties and turning them into BnB or outsiders buying 2nd holiday homes. This puts the house price out of reach of the locals . It’s not just there, but happening at all the holiday places in the world.
Tourism must be sustainable, just as the permanent living environment must also be. We are in an era of dwindling resources, especially water, and unfettered development is unacceptable. Brian Harrison is to be highly commended for his concern and activism for his adopted country! Calling him a hypocrite is ridiculous as he’s an established resident, not a tourist.
Anyone who is a resident and has made Spain their home is entitled to play an active role in campaigning for sustainable tourism.
According to the report,Brian Harrison has been resident in Tenerife for three decades; this certainly gives him the right to lead this particular campaign. My husband and I are long term residents in Spain (formerly living in the UK) and we fully support measures to stop irresponsible tourism. Although tourism contributes an enormous amount to Spain’s GDP, it is not without it’s cost to the natural environment and the negative impact of locals not being able to afford to rent or buy property. The fault lies with local and regional governments who have failed in their responsibilities to ensure sustainable tourism. And of course, some blame must lie with a significant minority of disrespectful, alcohol-fueled tourists (not only from the UK),who flagrantly abuse the country they are holidaying in.
Hi Garry! Thanks for the comment. I’m sure most will agree with you and support efforts for a more sustainable tourism model. It’s interesting though how many protests take a personal stand against tourists themselves- “Tourist Go Home” being the best example- rather than against the local government or hotel chains who are going against calls for sustainable tourism. Perhaps there are protests against the powers-that-be that don’t make it into the media? How do you see it? Do you think the protests are targeting the real source of the problem?
Eleanor. There is nothing in the article which says action is not being taken to get local and central government involved. However it’s likely they are not responding. Direct action may embarrass the government to act. .
PS Spain has been my home for 36 years
Having lived there for 30 years of course he has a right to protest. The bigger problem I feel is the every increasing number of Air B and Bs and the building of large tourist related hotels. It is these that need scaling back I would suggest but then that is down to local government, good luck with protesting that one.
It is crazy how overtourism has raised its head since the pandemic, affecting many places in the world. I live in Spain and am a travel writer, so it’s become one of my prime subjects. I always urge travellers without school-going children to rather visit in June or September – just as warm and sunny, but likely cheaper and less crowds.
That’s a great idea Anne. It’s also so much more pleasant to travel when it’s not so oppressively hot like it is in many places in July and August.
Doesn’t travel writing encourage tourism period. It glorifies place that makes people want to visit these as well as giving information away about ” secret places” that only locals know about and use as refuge from the hoards of tourists, encouraged by such travel writers / bloggers..
To get to the crux of the matter one must address greed, not only of government but the countless people who have turned their homes into VRBO’s, Air BnB’s etc. People taking advantage of tourism are just as responsible for the problem of excessive tourism. The subject of big developers building massive hotels along once beautiful coastlines is a government issue. Government could stop this and should! As for the man who is a transplant from the UK trying to tackle the problem, GOOD ON HIM! He has every right to do so and most likely understands it from all different angles. Protect the place you live whether it be from over tourism, illegal migrants etc. or you will have no home left and likely no other place to go. Stand your ground no matter where you live!
Hi Carly! Would you support a ban on Airbnbs like in Barcelona?
I’ve lived here 19 years and I am also worried about the impact that this mass tourism is having on the Islands. The amount of tourist arriving is completely unsustainable. The affect its having on locals and Residents is horrendous. The building of New Hotels and the staggering amount of people losing their homes to vacational tourists is staggering…We need a cap on the amount of tourist that arrive so that the Islands can actually breathe and keep up with putting our surroundings back in order and keeping our streets and buildings maintained in the correct way..keep our beaches clean and safe for everyone..m
Thanks for the comment Jennifer! Do you think the islands should ban AirBnBs like they plan to do in Barcelona?
I agree with John Steven, Gary and A number of others who have made similar comments that the term ‘hypocrite’ is nothing more than a headline grabbing caption which is undeserved and misleading. Brian has lived longer in Tenerife then in his native UK and there’s nothing wrong with him taking an active part in managing this difficult issue and the balance between tourists and residents of the island. Apart from some of the obvious issues around property prices and rents, there is also the fact that sadly, and frankly we’re one of the worst countries for this, tourists often engage in some very antisocial behaviours fuelled by alcohol which are disgraceful. For example, defecating against people’s houses or shops and restaurants, leaving rubbish everywhere, drunk and brawls and causing damaged property etc. Is there any wonder therefore, that local residence become angry and oppositional towards terrorism when it impacts on their communities. In this way. Obviously the answer is to have a more balanced approach between tourism and the needs of the local communities. Antisocial behaviour though should not be tolerated and people who behave in this way should be banned from visiting those areas for a period of time. If there isn’t a consequence to their actions then they would just continue behaving in this way weather on Tenerife or other holiday destinations. Sadly, I’ve seen it all too often during my visits to the islands and the Spanish mainland and elsewhere.
Hi Andrew. I would argue that the article reflects very clearly that Mr Harrison has every right to protest about the issues that affect him and his home and challenges the fact that he was called a hypocrite. As immigrants in other countries, we understand many issues from different angles and can offer valuable insights to add to the debate.
I agree with John Steven, Gary and a number of others who have made similar comments that the term ‘hypocrite’ is nothing more than a headline grabbing caption which is undeserved and misleading. Brian has lived longer in Tenerife then in his native UK and there’s nothing wrong with him taking an active part in managing this difficult issue as a responsible citizen of the island by balancing the needs of tourists with residents of the island. Apart from some of the obvious issues around property prices and rents, there is also the fact that sadly, and frankly we’re one of the worst countries for this, tourists often engage in some very antisocial behaviours fuelled by alcohol which are disgraceful. For example, defecating against people’s houses or shops and restaurants, leaving rubbish everywhere, drunken brawls and causing damage to property etc. Is there any wonder therefore, that local residents become angry and oppositional towards tourism when it impacts on their communities in such negative ways. Obviously the answer is to have a more balanced approach between tourism and the needs of the local communities. Antisocial behaviour though should not be tolerated and people who behave in this way should be banned from visiting those areas for a period of time. If there isn’t a consequence to their actions then they would just continue behaving in this way weather on Tenerife or other holiday destinations. Sadly, I’ve seen it all too often during my visits to the islands and the Spanish mainland and elsewhere.
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