Thousands of UK tourists 'abandon' holiday homes in popular Canary Islands - as EU rule changes

British expats are frustrated by the change caused by the Brexit vote

UK holidaymakers have reportedly 'abandoned' their holiday homes in the Canary Islands due to a change in European Union rules. Brits with holiday properties in Lanzarote and Tenerife have reacted to an EU rule change, which now stipulates that UK citizens can only spend 90 days at a time in Spain.

These strict regulations from the EU, implemented years after the Brexit vote, have led to disgruntled UK travellers who had relocated to the Canary Islands for a fresh start, considering leaving altogether. This comes as thousands of locals have taken to the streets in the Canary Islands to protest against tourism, declaring the region is "not for sale".

The residents are demanding a temporary limit on tourist arrivals in an attempt to curb a surge in short-term holiday rentals and hotel construction, which they claim is escalating housing costs for locals. Placards reading "We don't want to see our island die", "Stop Hotels" and "Canaries not for sale" were visible as thousands marched through the streets.

"It's not a message against the tourist, but against a tourism model that doesn't benefit this land and needs to be changed," voiced one protester in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the capital of Tenerife. Antonio Bullon, another demonstrator in Tenerife, said: "The authorities must immediately stop this corrupt and destructive model that depletes the resources and makes the economy more precarious."

"The Canary Islands have limits and people's patience too," stated the islands' president on Friday. He expressed pride in the region being a top Spanish tourist destination, but admitted that more controls are necessary, reports Birmingham Live. The islands, home to two million residents, host a significantly larger number of tourists each year.