British holidaymakers are on high alert after chilling “kill a tourist” graffiti was spotted in Tenerife, sparking fears among EU visitors to the popular Canary Islands retreat. The alarming slogan has caused quite a stir among both locals and Brits, with the message daubed by the Islas de Resistencia group, self-described as “a project to recover the memory of social movements in the Canary Islands”.
A local who noticed the threatening graffiti expressed concerns to LBC, saying: “Things on the islands are getting worse due to the large number of tourists and new residents, which leave us without homes and severely affect our natural environment,” Reacting to the disturbing sign, one British commenter remarked: “Won’t take long to slip into a medieval slum without tourist revenue. Oh well, never mind.”
READ MORE: British tourists handed shock Spain travel ban in holiday hotspot after ‘go home’ protests
Another weighed in: “The problem with demos against tourists in Canary Islands is that it won’t solve the problems.”
“There’s a housing shortage just about everywhere including non-touristy areas. Kill tourism and you kill your income = no housing then either. In some of the Canary Islands there are huge blocks of part built condos and estates that have been unfinished for years.”
“It might help if local gov completed those properties for locals.”, reports Birmingham Live.
Meanwhile, another added: “”Tourists go home” but “refugees welcome. ” Okay Spain, but here’s another English phrase for you: “be careful what you wish for”.”
One user scathingly remarked: “I hope Spain can survive once the Tourist gravy train slows to a trickle, Turkey it is then…Adious! “
Another chimed in with a harsher sentiment: “I wish everyone would just boycott these islands, and leave the Spanish and Africans alone without any jobs, to fight it out for survival.”
A different perspective was offered by someone who highlighted the past, stating: “They should look at the photos of places like Los Cristianos, and Las Americas back in the 1960s when they were nothing more than small fishing villages, which is exactly what they will be again if the tourists and their money leave.”
It comes after Spain’s prime minister vowed to impose a ban on non-resident Brits aiming to live in the country following national protests demanding tourists “go home”.
Spain has been rocked by major public demonstrations calling on the more than 88.5 million people who visit each year to choose other holiday destinations, deeming the sheer number unsustainable for its roughly 47 million residents. Anti-tourism campaigners have blamed tourists for nationally high rental rates and a lack of affordable housing, as scores of people are left at risk of poverty. Find the full story here.
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