Residents say they want to attract more discerning visitors who would appreciate the Canary Islands' culture and food more than a dominant influx from the UK.
Tenerife residents have demanded 'higher quality' tourists in a spiralling war against British holidaymakers they say drink cheap beer while scoffing burgers and chips.
Yet a wave of new anti-tourism graffiti has popped up near resorts over recent days, with messages reading 'tourists go home' and 'too many guiris', using a disparaging Spanish slang word for foreigners.
'This was a paradise but now it's not and it makes me angry. We must reduce the number of flights and visitors and focus on bringing higher quality people.' She said: 'It's like there are two worlds in Tenerife, the tourists and the locals, and we don't mix. READ MORE: British and Irish holiday home owners in the Canary Islands are being hit with £2,000 fines for refusing to rent them out to tourists Advertisement But it seems some Brits are fighting back, with a message in English scribbled next to one of the slogans saying: 'F**k off, we pay your wages!'Campaigners are expected to hold a press conference laying out their demands before holding a march with banners and signs.
It's not the first time Tenerife locals have taken to the streets to protest for new laws to protect those permanently living on the island, and restrict targeting tourists. A warning has been issued by government leaders and the hotel employers' association as mass protests over 'overcrowding' ahead of the protests this month.
'Never should there be attacks on an economic activity that puts food on the plate of most people living in the Canary Islands.
Ashotel has 'concern' over the call for demonstrations against the tourism model and has demanded a calm debate on the matter, since tourists 'must be left alone' due to issues that have not been resolved for years, such as housing and mobility problems. Overnight one of the organisers of the protests insisted they weren't against tourists but said change was needed.
Tech worker Ivan Cerdeña Molina, 36, is helping organise the protest this month as part of his role at local conservation group ATAN . This Easter weekend, the area was filled with holidaymakers who packed out the beaches and parked dozens of caravans and jeeps on the once-protected land behind. 'Meanwhile there have been multiple cases of animals being injured or killed by boat propellers - there are often vessels in protected waters, but no one is cracking down on the activity.'
Back in Los Cristianos, British expats and tourists rushed to defend themselves against the heightening anti-tourism sentiment. READ MORE: Late-night drinking and eating could be SCRAPPED in Spain as nation looks to bring in earlier closing times for bars and restaurants, to the dismay of British tourists Advertisement But she conceded: 'I've lived here for 10 years and I do understand some of the arguments about rent, I was actually kicked out of a flat because the landlord wanted to turn it into an Airbnb.'
'If the English didn't come, I tell you right now that graffiti would change to say 'English please come back!''
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