A popular Spanish holiday destination is planning to introduce measures to stop influencers performing stunts that wreck the environment. Authorities in Tenerife are seeking to clamp down on tourists flouting rules at beauty spots across the island, which is harming the local surroundings.
In some areas, tourists have ignored rules against smoking intended to reduce the amount of discarded cigarette buds, whilst elsewhere, tourists’ actions are risking forest fires and disturbing wildlife. Under the proposals, YouTubers or influencers who post videos online that promote practices which are harmful to the environment could be targeted by a new digital surveillance unit. Rosa Dávila, president of the Tenerife Government, said the plans were intended to “prevent social media from becoming a showcase for impunity,” as she vowed to find and fine those who broke the rules.
She said: “We cannot allow regulations to be broken just to take a good photograph.”
Ms Dávila added that authorities would now be given the ability to take “a step further by monitoring social media,” after other measures failed to have the desired impact.
Under the proposals, two officers will monitor social media footage looking for videos that show damage to the environment, such as accessing restricted zones in protected areas, flying drones, and taking volcanic stones, and will seek to fine those responsible.
Fines for causing damage to the environment in Tenerife currently range between €3,000 (£2,600) and €300,000 (£260,000).
One such hotspot is The Mirador de Chipeque, which has seen a significant surge in visitor numbers due to its popularity on social media platforms such as Instagram.
The picturesque views of the island’s coast have made the viewpoint popular amongst tourists, with hundreds arriving each day at peak times.
But its popularity and the influx of visitors have caused concern and anger, with traffic jams on the approach road, illegal parking, and the blocking of emergency exits in particular enraging locals.
Local volunteers say that they collected over 200 discarded cigarette butts, plastics, wet wipes, and food wrappers in one afternoon of litter picking. The waste proved to be not only unsightly but also a serious risk to the local environment.
The desire to impress on social media has seen several stunts at beauty spots across the island in the pursuit of likes and views.
In one, influencer and gamer, Azogue Elea was heavily criticised for stunts showing him throwing pans into the distance in Teide National Park which resulted in him being forced to take down videos on Instagram and TikTok.
Another video saw a man having his hair cut in the middle of the road in Teide National Park, causing fury amongst local residents and ecologists.
Alfonso Boullon, of environmental group Salvar La Tejita, said: “Antics like cutting hair for a TikTok video or throwing paella pans in the middle of Teide National Park have angered many people as it is a protected place.”