Experts have warned that the Canary Islands are facing systemic collapse due to a combination of sewage problems, housing shortages, and traffic congestion. However, they insist that tourists are not to blame for the crisis.
Two academics from Las Palmas University, Professor Carmelo J. León and Doctor Matías González Hernández, told the Mirror that the islands can handle the 15 million annual visitors, but only if numbers are properly managed. Professor León noted that Tenerife is already saturated, with little room left for construction and increasing pressure on beaches and resources.
Doctor Hernández revealed that 40% of sewage flows into the sea untreated, threatening wildlife and beaches. He described the pollution on some beaches as horrifying and called it a structural issue. The shift from hotels to holiday lets has also priced locals out of the housing market, with Hernández warning of a red light on homelessness as more Canarians cannot afford to rent or buy.
The academics argued that better public housing, schools, and road infrastructure are needed to cope with growing numbers. Doctor Hernández said traffic jams of two hours on main roads are common, and tourism cannot be considered separately from society.
Despite anti-tourist graffiti appearing in Tenerife, Professor León said most Canarians remain welcoming, valuing the cultural exchange with visitors from Germany, Sweden, and Britain. However, Doctor Hernández warned that perceptions could change quickly if problems are not addressed.
Environmental group Ben Magec-Ecologists in Action highlighted additional pressures, including unauthorised drone flights, access to restricted areas, and parties on protected volcanoes. Spokesman Eugenio Reyes said the islands have exceeded their carrying capacity seven times, leading to a scenario of systemic collapse.
