UK tourists to Tenerife warned of hefty tax for visits to the Canary Island

The Canary Islands attracted 16 million visitors last year (Image: Getty)

Brits planning to travel to Tenerife next year will have to pay fees to visit some of its most popular attractions.

The levy is part of the Canary Islands' new tourism strategy and will come into effect as of January 1 2025.

The move is an attempt to appease local anger about mass tourism that has erupted over the past year.

Tens of thousands of demonstrators have taken to the streets since the spring demanding that the local government limits visitor numbers.

Protesters against mass tourism in the Canary Islands (Image: Getty)

The new fee has been dubbed an "eco tax" and will have to be paid by all visitors to the island.

However, the exact amount has still to be determined by local authorities and will be announced at a later date.

Many popular tourist sites are expected to introduce the levy, among them the island's iconic volcano, Mount Teide.

Currently hikers need to apply for a free permit to go trekking on the volcano. Only 200 permits are issued per day and can be obtained online.

Politicians on the Canary Islands hope the new fees will help diminish local anger and hostility towards tourists.

Protestors say the current mass tourism model is unsustainable and is causing serious environmental damage.

They also claim that a proliferation in holiday apartments is pricing locals out of property rental markets.

The latest demonstration in October saw around 30,000 people turn out for "The Canary Islands have a limit" protest march.

The Canary Islands attracts millions of visitors a year from all around the world. More than 16 million tourists visited the Canaries in 2023, a number that is expected to be surpassed this year.

However tourism is a major contributor to the local economy, with visitors spending as much as €20 billion last year.

Overall, tourism accounts for 35% of the Canary Islands' GDP and 40% of jobs.