Fury in Tenerife as schoolkids 'forced' to learn lessons in English to 'keep them safe'
Protesters have been sharing insight into how overtourism has left an impact on the beautiful island.
Several school children in Tenerife have been “forced” to learn lessons in English to “keep them safe”, it has been claimed. The startling revelation comes as the popular holiday destination is battling against overtourism.
Tens of thousands of angry protesters have been marching on the roads to express their frustrations over the large number of tourists thronging the island.
Around 50,000 locals took to the streets as they chanted "the Canaries have a limit" and carried slogans such as "domestic terrorism is the holiday home".
Express.co.uk spoke to several such protesters who shared intriguing tales from the island.
Teenage activist Celia Quintero said that at age 15 she already feels under strain at school to accommodate British tourists.
She said there was pressure to learn English at school with lessons like Maths even being taught in the language saying “you have to know English because we rely on tourism and to stay safe”.
She told the Express at the protest: “I wouldn’t go to the south of the island alone, it is not safe for young women.”
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The increasing frustration among residents has led Canarian leaders to caution against making tourists feel unwelcome, emphasising the crucial role tourism plays in providing essential income for the islands.
Fernando Clavijo, the Canary Islands president, also blasted the activists, whose argument "smacks of tourist-phobia".
Last year, approximately six and a half million tourists travelled to Tenerife, with an astonishing 17 million expected to visit the Canary Islands, including destinations like Lanzarote and Gran Canaria, in 2024.
Jaime Quintero, 21, was another activist who took to the streets in the capital - but insisted he wasn't against tourism.
He said: “We are not against tourism, but every nook and cranny is being taken over. We want to change it to make it more sustainable. When I visit beaches they are filled with rubbish it makes me sad.”
He added: “We want to address the misconception that we don’t want tourists. We are here to change tourism. This island is beautiful and if we don’t protect it there will be nothing for the tourists to see.”
