Thousands protest in Spain's Canary Islands over mass tourism

A group of tourists prepares to walk near the snowy Teide mountain after the heavy rains of the last few days in Las Canadas del Teide on the island of Tenerife, Spain, March 25, 2024. REUTERS/Borja Suarez/FILE PHOTO

SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, Spain (Reuters) - Thousands of people protested in Tenerife on Saturday, calling for the Spanish island to temporarily limit tourist arrivals to stem a boom in short-term holiday rentals and hotel construction that is driving up housing costs for locals.

Holding placards reading "People live here" and "We don't want to see our island die", demonstrators said changes must be made to the tourism industry that accounts for 35% of gross domestic product (GDP) in the Canary Islands archipelago.