Spain has introduced various measures to clamp down on its overtourism problem recently, from two-year bans on new holiday lets in Alicante to the doubling of tourist taxes in Barcelona.
The Canary Islands have arguably been most impacted by the negative effects of too many tourists. In the first quarter of 2025, a whopping 4.36 million international visitors made their way to the islands, prompting huge demonstrations this April to demand tighter regulations on tourism. According to Travel Tomorrow, banners read ‘The Canaries Have A Limit’.
Now, Tenerife – the most visited of the archipelago’s islands – is introducing new measures to protect its natural environment from the impact of overtourism.
One initiative is a daily cap on visitor numbers to Anaga Rural Park. The park, on the island’s northern tip, brags dramatic mountains looming over the Atlantic Ocean, as well as black sand beaches, prehistoric forests and protected species such as the Laurel Pigeon. There are also 26 traditional villages within the park, which survive by ancestral agricultural methods – pretty fascinating, right?
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A motion was passed by the council to restrict access to the park, and in January, large coaches specifically were blocked from accessing certain areas. Carmen Peña, councillor for San Cristobal de la Laguna, has called on the island’s governing body Cabildo de Tenerife to continue enforcing the motion, including introducing daily visitor caps.
Elsewhere on the island, the Cabildo de Tenerife announced the launch of an online booking system for some of the trails in Teide National Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is home to Spain’s highest peak.
According to the Times, tourists visiting the peak – Teide – will now be charged an ‘eco-tax’, and security cameras are reportedly being installed to control the park’s visitor numbers and monitor when areas are overcrowded.
Environmental groups have said these measures are insufficient and have called for a significant reduction in the park’s four million annual visitors.
Spain’s battle with overtourism
Spain is set to become the most-visited destination in the world within the next 15 years, but the recent protests on the Canary Islands echo a resentment felt across the country.
The problems locals are facing include rising housing costs, environmental degradation, pressure on infrastructure and water shortages. You can read more about all the tourism restrictions in Spain in our comprehensive guide.
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