Over 230 sunloungers have been damaged at two popular beaches in a town beloved by British holidaymakers, a local authority in Spain alleges.
The incidents are said to have occurred at the Tenerife beaches of Las Vistas and El Camisón in the early hours of Thursday morning, Canarian Weekly reports.
136 sunloungers were allegedly damaged at El Camisón, as well as 100 at Las Vistas beach.
The exterior walls of the nearby Arts shopping centre were also defaced, Arona Council claims, with anti-tourism slogans written on them in graffiti, including “Canarias no se vende” (The Canary Islands are not for sale) and “Canarias se defiende” (The Canary Islands defend themselves).
Mayor of Arona Fátima Lemes said: “We are against all types of vandalism and the lack of civility of some people who attack the heritage of Arona, which causes serious harm to both residents and visitors.”
Arona City Council said: “The City Council of Arona wants to condemn this Thursday, December 5, the acts of vandalism recorded at the Arts Shopping Center in Playa de Las Americas, as well as on the beaches of Las Vistas and El Camison.
“The City Council of Arona has once again made a call to respect public furniture, green areas, playgrounds, litter bins, containers, leisure areas and walls, elements that make Arona a municipality proud of its identity.”
“The people of Arona are very conscious of protecting our environment, but unfortunately, there are always exceptions that threaten the common good, which is like attacking all of us,” she also said.
It comes after a wave of protests from residents of popular holiday hubs across the country this summer, with locals taking to the streets to condemn the impact of overtourism on the cost of living and housing.
Recently, a large number of locals protested against “suffocating” tourism on the streets of San Sebastian last weekend amid growing anti-tourist sentiment in the country.
Groups in the Basque city marched under a banner reading “We are in danger; degrow tourism!” through the historic centre to protest against the current tourism model and increasing rental prices for residents.
Demonstrations have brought tougher tourism rules in some areas, and efforts by authorities to clampdown on controversial holiday lets.
The Balearic and Canary Islands in Spain, such as Lanzarote, Ibiza, Tenerife, and Majorca, have long been favoured holiday spots among UK tourists.
Spain expects to receive more than 90 million international visitors by the end of 2024, according to consultancy company Braintrust.
