Tenerife protests: Moment furious anti-tourism protestors rip down hotel barrier

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As the crowds of demonstrators walked towards the Cuna del Alma area of the island, they were led by bannered individuals aiming to raise as much awareness as possible. 

Tenerife is not the only Canary Island - or part of Spain - to oppose tourism. Scores of locals across the Balearics and the mainland say the current structure does not promote stable employment and drives up the prices of houses, and rents. 

Airbnb hosts, they claim, are taking up valuable property otherwise earmarked for locals, reserving them for the droves of holidaymakers who arrive on the islands annually. 

This protest is one of many to have taken place this summer. One of the biggest protests to happen in Tenerife went ahead in April, where noisy campaigners pleaded with the government not to "kill the island."

Pictures from the scene earlier today, appear to depict protestors pushing over a metal barrier, aimed to keep people out of the proposed construction site.

On its website, Cuna del Alma's "Eco Manifesto" claims that they "believe in a tourism model that applies itself in harmony with its surroundings."

"Respectful with its environment, sustainable, to be enjoyed by present and future generations."

They say they will "prioritise local products and put its people first", while pledging to "follow environmental focused planning and protect biodiversity".

They also said they aimed at "restoring a natural balance", reviving a landscape "damaged by humans". 

In an interview with ITV, leaders of a local education and research company, GeoTenerife, claimed the big new development will produce "chaos in this little village". 

"It is a community here - it is a way of life here that is going to be destroyed."

They argued that the developers were planning to "completely cover up this natural beach with imported sand" and that the project is not sustainable.

The Cuna del Alma developers, however, told ITV that the project would be built with respect for the environment and intergration of the landscape.

They added that the new development will result in 750 jobs and that the sand would be entirely natural. 

They also said the area on which the project will be built is not protected. 

An exclusive video shows protesters marching and shouting in Puertito de Adeje. 

"The silence of the political class in the face of these protests is deafening. Instead of listening to citizens and seeking solutions, many leaders seem to be waiting for the wave of indignation to pass," argued eldairio.es. 

"This silence only reinforces the perception that the elites are more interested in protecting their interests than in solving the problems of ordinary people."

"The protests that have shaken the Canary Islands are a clear indication that something is changing," they continued. "This movement is a wake-up call for all those who have benefited for years from the current model."

Exclusive pictures show the hundreds of protesters marching through Puertito de Adeje, holding banners reading: "The Canary Islands are not for sale", and "The beach is off limits".

With other slogans reading: "The beach is off limits", the hundreds of attendees walked around the fenced perimetre of the land where the developer plans to resume work. 

In protest, they also dismantled a section of the fence. 

The platform warned: "We will not allow them to destroy the little we have left. We will fight for the Puertito we want, whatever the cost."

Salvar el Puertito maintains that that this proposal would be compatible with a demand from residents, for decades, to grant the coastal town of Puertito facilities for sanitation, electricty and parking, "which could be carried out in a simple way without having to urbanise the surroundings."

"The Adeje Town Hall has a golden opportunity to reverse the course of the municipality and the island, moving towards a model in which citizens are listened to, the territory is respected and its values ​​are put at the service and enjoyment of citizens," the group insists. 

The protest has been planned since July 30, in anticipation of the "imminent start" of the works at Cuna del Alma, according to La casa de mi tia. 

In a call for action, the Salvar el Puertito group has estimated the value of the purchase of these lands at between 14 and 18 million euros, rather than 200 million. 

“Once the process of expropriation of the lands of the El Puertito Partial Plan has been carried out, they will become part of the public land assets of the Adeje council or of the public administration that has acquired them,” the group emphasised. 

From there, they argue, a Special Plan can be drawn up that contemplates the new use of the land. Salvar el Puertito proposes to extend the protected natural area of the La Caleta Site of Scientific Interest, so that it includes the lands that previously belonged to Cuna del Alma.

They have also proposed other alternatives such as the creation of a marine classroom for the study of the flora and fauna of this area of southern Tenerife, which could be located in buildings already constructed. 

Salvar La Tejita posted on X (formerly Twitter) a video showing demonstrators chanting and holding banners in protest of the Cuna del Alma tourist project. 

The population has now had enough of this reality and have demanded a new social contract that prioritises the needs of the majoirty over the interests of a few, campaigning groups have said. 

They argue that the employment generated is "precarious and poorly paid", and does not compensate for the environmental and social cost of destroying the island's natural landscapes and cultural heritage. 

The south of Tenerife has witnessed its natural resources and cultural heritage sacrificed in the name of economic development, it is claimed.

Hundreds of people have mobilised on Saturday to ask for the new Cuna del Alma tourism project to be expropriated. 

They held banners saying: "The Canary Islands are not for sale, they are to be loved and defended" while walking through Puertito de Adeje in southern Tenerife.