British tourists heading to popular holiday destinations this summer should be aware of anti-tourism activists, as holidaymakers in Lanzarote have faced disruptive protests. Activists have been gluing shut Airbnb key boxes and barricading access to popular tourist hotspots.
Protests Disrupt Holiday Accommodation
Footage circulating on social media shows campaigners smearing strong adhesive over lock boxes used by holiday rental proprietors, potentially leaving arriving guests unable to access their accommodation. These boxes, typically mounted on the exterior of properties, house keys that can be collected using a PIN code provided by hosts.
In a separate demonstration, protesters were captured on film wrapping red-and-white tape and placing unofficial warning notices around tourist destinations, including routes to volcanic lookouts, in an apparent effort to deter visitors.
Activists' Tactics and Messages
Pictures online also reveal stickers plastered on holiday rental properties bearing slogans such as: "Your tourism kills our land." Activists claim they are highlighting the devastating effect of mass tourism on local communities, particularly soaring housing prices and a lack of affordable accommodation for islanders.
Some campaigners have left messages on rental cars alerting visitors that they are "contributing to our displacement," reports the Mirror. One note stated: "By choosing this holiday home in our village, you are contributing to our displacement. We have nowhere to live. Travel responsibly. Don't be complicit in this business." Graffiti bearing phrases including "Tourists go home" has also emerged across parts of the island.
Record Tourist Numbers Fuel Tensions
The demonstrations coincide with unprecedented visitor figures for Lanzarote. More than 400,000 tourists flew in from UK airports during the opening three months of 2026, according to data cited by local media. Community groups throughout Spain's holiday destinations have grown increasingly vocal about how short-term rental properties and soaring tourist numbers are affecting local housing availability.
Comparable incidents have been documented in other parts of Spain. Earlier this year, hundreds of Airbnb key safes in Granada were reportedly sealed with glue during an organised demonstration against holiday lettings. Mass rallies opposing over-tourism swept across Spain last summer, with activists contending that the expansion of short-term rentals is making it progressively harder for locals to secure reasonably priced accommodation.
Escalation Expected This Summer
Spain's anti-tourism protests could escalate this summer, as pressure group Menys Turisme Més Vida (Less Tourism More Life) announced plans for a major demonstration that it expects to have a "historic turnout," the Daily Star previously reported. The news comes as sites in the Canary Islands have been daubed with anti-tourist graffiti, including reports from local news outlet Canarian Weekly of a "kill a tourist" slogan being spotted in Tenerife.
