Both British tourists and local authorities are calling for urgent action after hundreds were left waiting for several hours at passport control.

By Jennifer Pinto, Audience writer

13:16, Tue, Jun 3, 2025 | UPDATED: 13:27, Tue, Jun 3, 2025

Tourists have said there were no toilets and called the conditions 'inhumane'

Tourists have said there were no toilets and called the conditions 'inhumane' (Image: TikTok)

Hundreds of UK tourists found themselves trapped in a crowded passport control area at Tenerife South Airport recently, enduring what many have described as being 'inhumane conditions'. Over 500 travellers waited for more than two hours on May 26, claiming they had no access to toilets, and stuck in sweltering heat as four UK flights arrived in rapid succession, Canarian Weekly reported. Passengers said that only two passport booths were staffed to handle all of the British visitors, leading to widespread frustration over the "claustrophobic" conditions.

With the Canary Islands entering their peak summer season, both local authorities and UK tourists are calling for urgent improvements, with some also urging for the introduction of e-gates without stamping passports to ease border processing. Rosa Dávila, President of the Tenerife Cabildo, and Tourism Minister Lope Afonso, have requested an emergency meeting with government officials and airport operator AENA to address what took place last week.

Tenerife South Airport

500 people were reportedly stuck (Image: TikTok)

Rosa Dávila said the situation is "unacceptable" and that this was "structural issue" with not enough border control staff since the UK left the European Union.

She also added that she wrote to Spain's Interior Minister last year to make him aware of the problem.

Dávila said: "There's a serious lack of respect towards Tenerife. We're managing essential services locally, but without state support, we're being left to fail."

Lourdes Torrecillas, a Tenerife resident coming back from Bristol, sait it was "claustrophobic" and an "inhumane wait".

She added: "This was an inhumane wait. These are people who have paid to enjoy a few days of sunshine. They shouldn't be treated like cattle."

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Jenny Wrenn wrote on X (formerly Twitter): "I’ve just been to Tenerife. The passport control area is small, with four e-gates after which your passport was stamped, and two border guards stamping and checking passports. E-gates are fine, but it’s the nonsense of passport stamping that’s the problem."

The UK and the EU have pledged to maintain dialogue on ensuring smooth border management for their citizens, including the potential introduction of e-gates where appropriate, The Local Spain reported.

They affirmed that "there will be no legal barriers to e-gate use for British nationals travelling to and from European Union member states following the rollout of the EU Entry/Exit System."

UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer has also said: "I want it [the e-gates] done as soon as possible, and that's why I urge EU member states now to do it."