The boss of a major airline has issued a stark warning to officials in the Canary Islands in Spain. The commercial director of Condor Airlines, Christian Lesjak, has warned during a tourism conference in Tenerife that "if politicians are not careful, they will put the tourism in the Canary Islands at risk". The aviation boss' comments follow growing concerns over the impact of mass tourism in the archipelago, where there has regularly been protests on the streets demanding for stricter regulations, over the past year.
Mr Lesjak made the comment at the FVW Travel Talk tourism conference, whilst a number of demonstrators led by activist group Canarias tiene un límite stood outside the venue calling for immediate action to protect the islands from what they say is an unsustainable tourism model.
The protest was organised to coincide with the conference, in order to highlight the growing local discontent with mass tourism and its impacts on the Canary Islands. According to the group, the islands experienced around 18 million tourists in 2024, which is also a figure they deem unsustainable.
"There are no limits in place, and tourism continues to grow unchecked, pushing the islands towards environmental and social collapse. We are swimming in polluted waters and stuck in traffic for hours on a daily basis, while tourism keeps expanding, worsening these issues," the organisation stated, according to Canarian Weekly.
The protestors are currently demanding that there should be a tourism ban to halt further expansion, a residency law to control the rise in the non-resident population, an eco-tax to fund conservation and restoration of natural ecosystems, and a suspension of large-scale developments including Cuna del Alma and the Hotel de La Tejita.
The protesters are also arguing that the "Canarias is no longer a paradise" and that without action, the entire region will continue to deteriorate. Speaking to GeoTenerife, an organisation that recently secured national geological interest status for Puertito de Adeje, Mr Lesjak acknowledged the concerns raised by protesters as important. "We are interested in the cultural and ecological integrity of the island because it is a product that needs to be protected," he said.
He also encouraged protesters to "put pressure on politicians, who must take responsibility" in order to place a limit on tourism on the islands. GeoTenerife director Sharon Backhouse stressed that the concerns of Canarian citizens regarding uncheck tourism growth are being ignored by the authorities. She welcomed Condor Airlines' stance, stating that it was "a significant move by a key industry player to support the voices of the Canarians calling for change".
Jet2's CEO Steve Heapy also recently said that the Canary Islands are playing a "dangerous game" when it comes to tourism policies. He warned that tourists are being put of by the protests that have been occurring on the islands, and added that they would choose destinations elsewhere, such as Turkey, Greece and Morocco, for their future holidays instead.
