Over 200,000 tourists have committed driving offences while on holiday in Spain, but leave before they can pay fines. Eight tourists were caught by the Guardia Civil leaning out of a moving car without seatbelts on the TF-24 road in Teide National Park.
The driver was fined £435 and six penalty points, while each passenger was fined £174. This group paid their fines in full, but this is not the case for many visitors. The country’s Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) has said that offences by foreign motorists frequently go unresolved after the drivers return home without paying fines. Authorities believe that up to 200,000 tourists avoid paying traffic fines every year. Many of the offences are classed as serious, meaning drivers are putting themselves and others at risk. Locals have said they are furious that visitors can dodge these penalties, which they themselves have to pay. They are calling for tougher controls to ensure tourists face the same consequences for traffic offences as they do.
This comes after over a year of protests in Spain and other holiday destinations against overtourism. An estimated 18 million people are expected to visit Spain in 2025.
One man told The Guardian: “We don’t want this unlimited growth rate,” said one man. “More construction, more population growth, more tourists.”
A second said: “People can’t access housing,” blaming “corrupt” politicians who “fail to protect the environment”. A third said: “The Canary Islands is not a paradise anymore. Our coastline is s***. We can’t have 18 million tourists.”
Ivan, a member of the local environmental organisation ATAN, said: “The Canary Islands are facing a critical situation due to tourism saturation and overpopulation, mainly Europeans moving here.
“The influx of visitors, combined with the new residents, strains essential infrastructure such as public transportation, waste management, and water supply, while contributing to environmental pollution and degradation.
“This system provides minimal benefits to the local population, perpetuating issues like poverty and vulnerability, and fueling urban development projects and corruption that worsen the crisis.”
Ivan urged UK holidaymakers to consider other destinations. He told the Express: “Therefore, we encourage tourists to consider alternative destinations where their visit will have a smaller environmental and social impact.
“It is necessary to stop this unsustainable model to rebuild a more balanced and fair tourism industry focused on improving residents’ quality of life and preserving the environment. Only then can we reverse the damage and move toward a more sustainable future for the islands.”
