Latest news with #RosaDávila
Daily Record
09-06-2025
- Daily Record
Canary Islands protest group faces pushback over demonstration plans
The protest group 'Canarias tiene un límite' (Canary Islands have a limit) has organised many of the demonstrations that have caused chaos at popular locations for tourism on the Canary Islands in recent years, where holidaymakers came face-to-face with signs telling them to "go home" A prominent Spanish protest group, vocal about the detrimental impacts of rampant mass tourism, has encountered resistance from local authorities after attempting to flood a major national park that draws in millions annually. The activist collective 'Canarias tiene un límite' (Canary Islands have a limit) has been behind numerous protests that have disrupted tourist hotspots across the Canary Islands, confronting holidaymakers with blunt messages to "go home". However, their latest scheme set for Saturday was thwarted when island officials mandated a permit for public demonstrations, warning that proceeding without one would be illegal. The notice came too late for the organisers to secure the necessary authorisation. In a passionate online statement, 'Canarias tiene un límite' said they were "forced to postpone the act" due to the intervention by the authorities. Despite this setback, small groups of demonstrators still ventured into the national park encircling the colossal Mount Teide volcano on Saturday, testing how officials would respond to their action. Following 'Canarias tiene un límite's' stark warning in their announcement, the group made it clear that official resistance would not deter their summer protest plans. They declared: "We delay, but we don't quit." The activists insisted that the true danger to the UNESCO World Heritage site was not their demonstrations, but "the institutions which treat Teide as an amusement park." Despite attempts by authorities to thwart them, "small groups" of demonstrators still gathered at Teide National Park over the weekend, as reported by CanarianWeekly. Brandishing banners, they drew attention to the damage caused by quad bikes and tourists veering off paths on the delicate ecosystem. The determined locals vowed to "circumvent" the "institutional blockade" facing their campaign. The group defiantly stated: "We are here at Teide, despite the authorities having prohibited the demonstration. We have come in small groups to bypass the institutions' attempts to silence us, but so far, they've achieved the opposite. We've managed to highlight the situation at Teide, which reflects a broader crisis in all of the Canary Islands' protected areas,". They criticised Tenerife council president Rosa Dávila's "clumsy" efforts to suppress their protest, which she feared could harm the natural treasure. However, the protesters countered that the real threats were "thousands of quad bikes", tourists straying off designated areas, and unlawful sporting events, all of which pose a greater risk to the 47,000-acre reserve. Mount Teide stands majestically as an imposing volcano, holding the title of the world's third-largest when measured from its base 7500 metres below the sea surface. The national park that nestles this natural wonder attracts around 3 million visitors annually, both from within Spain and abroad, who are keen to witness Spain's tallest peak and the stunning panoramas it offers. Despite resistance from some political quarters, campaigners 'Canarias tiene un límite' have stated that the discord has only highlighted the issues facing the national park and spurred on their efforts. In a stark message to the powers that be, the activists proclaimed: "There are other officials responsible for managing Mount Teide who are comfortably sheltered by Rosa Dávila's ineptitude.
Irish Daily Mirror
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Daily Mirror
UK tourists rage at 'inhuman' Brexit queues at airport in travel hotspot
An emergency meeting has been called among top Spanish politicians after British travellers found themselves trapped in two-hour queues and "inhuman" conditions at the start of the school holidays, before even making it through passport control. On Monday (May 26), around 500 UK holidaymakers found themselves stuck waiting on the tarmac at Tenerife South Airport for up to 45 minutes, before disembarking to find broken-down escalators and vast lines stretching in and out of the terminal to have their passports checked. At the airport, some travellers reported seeing four officials manning just two passport control booths. As a result, passengers were crammed into a situation described as "claustrophobic" and "third world," reports The Mirror. Lourdes Tourecillas, a local resident who was returning from Bristol, told Canarian Weekly: "Some parents lifted their children onto their shoulders to stop them from suffocating." "There were no toilets, and people were visibly distressed," she added. The President of Tenerife's ruling council, Rosa Dávila, has called an emergency meeting in light of the incident, with chaos and long queues becoming a common problem at the busy airport during peak tourism periods. Dávila called the situation "unacceptable", but blamed the situation on the continued failure to provide sufficient staff for border checks ever since the UK left the European Union. She added: "This is a structural issue. We can't continue to operate with the same staffing levels we had pre-Brexit." A major issue facing travellers on Monday was the inability of the airport's automated checking systems to process children's passports. This meant families having to queue with kids and baggage for hours in sweltering, lengthy, lines to kick off their holidays. The council's President said she had written to mainland politicians, but received no meaningful response. "There's a serious lack of respect towards Tenerife. We're managing essential services locally, but without state support, we're being left to fail," she said. Lope Afonso, Tenerife's Tourism Minister, warned: "This is the first impression our visitors get. After hours on a plane, they're met with long waits and no explanation. It's not acceptable, and it's hurting our brand as a quality tourist destination. "Tenerife competes globally. Other countries have adapted their systems since Brexit. Why haven't we?" He also had a warning for summer travellers if Spanish mainland politicians don't take action, saying: "We need immediate solutions to avoid this happening again, especially with the busy summer season ahead."
Daily Record
30-05-2025
- Daily Record
'Inhuman' queues at Spanish airport force officials into emergency meeting
Tenerife's President has called for an emergency meeting after 'inhuman' queues at the Spanish airport left Brits and other tourists waiting for two hours in a 'third world' situation. Top Spanish officials have urgently convened following a debacle that saw British holidaymakers caught in two-hour queues and facing "inhuman" conditions at the onset of the school holidays, all before they could even pass through passport control. On Monday (May 26), approximately 500 UK tourists were left stranded on the tarmac at Tenerife South Airport for as long as 45 minutes. Upon disembarking, they were greeted by out-of-service escalators and extensive queues snaking through the terminal for passport inspection. Inside the airport, reports emerged of only four officials operating a mere two passport booths, leading to overcrowded conditions that passengers labelled as "claustrophobic" and reminiscent of "third world" standards. Lourdes Tourecillas, a local returning from Bristol, recounted to Canarian Weekly the dire situation: "Some parents lifted their children onto their shoulders to stop them from suffocating," she said, also noting the absence of toilets and visible distress among the people. Rosa Dávila, President of Tenerife's governing council, has responded to the incident with an emergency meeting, as such chaos and lengthy queues have become all too familiar scenes at this bustling hub during high tourist seasons, reports the Mirror. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Dávila has deemed the circumstances "unacceptable" but pointed to the ongoing issue of inadequate staffing for border controls since Britain's departure from the European Union as the root cause. She added: "This is a structural issue. We can't continue to operate with the same staffing levels we had pre-Brexit." Monday posed a significant challenge for travellers as the airport's automated checking systems failed to process children's passports effectively. Consequently, families were subjected to long queues in the sweltering heat, with their children and luggage in tow, creating a stressful start to their holidays. The council's President expressed her frustration after reaching out to mainland politicians and getting no substantial reply. "There's a serious lack of respect towards Tenerife. We're managing essential services locally, but without state support, we're being left to fail," she stated. Lope Afonso, Tenerife's Tourism Minister, conveyed his concerns regarding the negative impact on the island's tourism image. "This is the first impression our visitors get. After hours on a plane, they're met with long waits and no explanation. It's not acceptable, and it's hurting our brand as a quality tourist destination," he remarked. "Tenerife competes globally. Other countries have adapted their systems since Brexit. Why haven't we?". A warning was also issued by him for future holiday goers, especially in anticipation of the forthcoming summer rush, underlining the urgency of the situation. "We need immediate solutions to avoid this happening again, especially with the busy summer season ahead," he cautioned.
