IRISH holidaymakers in Gran Canaria may soon be hit with a new tourist tax after Tenerife’s move to introduce the fee.
The beautiful island, known and loved for its white sandy beaches, gets four million tourists every year.
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But locals recently took to the streets in the capital protesting that tourism is destroying their economy.
The Canary Islands is now set to take on measures to control the number of people arriving by charging tourists a daily cost.
This latest proposal – known as eco tax – is part of a new tourism strategy being drafted by the government of Canary Islands.
Last week, Tenerife’s president Rosa Davila proposed the new plan and the island council agreed the idea would be moved forward.
Irish tourists in Tenerife will have to pay to get into the Anaga, the 12,188ft Mount Teide and Teno Rural Parks.
Now officials in Gran Canaria are considering introducing an entry fee to the popular natural monument Roque Nublo in a bid to control crowds of visitors.
The Roque Nublo, a volcanic rock surrounded by 26,000 hectares of park, attracts people from all over.
A report will be carried out to assess the scheme with the findings to be completed in eight weeks.
Antonio Morales Méndez, head of Gran Canaria, explained the move is part of a larger plan to protect natural areas, according to the Express.
The plans will also include the Bandama Caldera and the Maspalomas Sand Dunes.
The chaos began earlier in April when Canary Islands regional president Fernando Clavijo said he was worried about graffiti appearing on the island, including “Tourists go home.”
The protestors made their voices heard under the slogan: “Canarias tiene un limite’, which translates to ‘The Canary Islands have a limit.’
An eco tax where tourists pay extra on their hotel bill to stay in many destinations in Spain and other parts of Europe has been talked about for the Canaries but has been ruled out for the time being by regional president Fernando Clavijo.
Tenerife has been at the forefront of the protests linked to the type of mass tourism.
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