Tourists visiting Lanzarote have faced disruptions as activists have resorted to unconventional tactics, such as sealing Airbnb key boxes and obstructing access to popular scenic spots.
Social media footage reveals protesters using strong adhesive to seal key boxes typically affixed to properties, potentially obstructing guests from retrieving keys using the provided PIN codes.
In another demonstration, activists were captured placing caution tape and unofficial signs near tourist attractions, like paths leading to volcanic viewpoints, in a bid to deter visitors.
Online images also display stickers on holiday rental units with messages like “Your tourism kills our land,” as campaigners aim to highlight the negative effects of mass tourism on local communities, including escalating housing prices and the lack of affordable housing options for residents.
Some activists have taken to leaving notes on rental vehicles cautioning visitors about their impact on the community, with messages emphasizing their role in displacing locals.
The island has also seen graffiti bearing slogans like “Tourists go home” cropping up in various locations.
These protests come amidst a surge in visitor numbers to Lanzarote, with over 400,000 travelers arriving from UK airports in the first quarter of 2026, as reported by local sources.
Residents’ groups in tourist-heavy regions of Spain are increasingly expressing concerns over the influence of short-term holiday rentals and the growing influx of tourists on the local housing market.
Similar incidents have been reported elsewhere in Spain, with recent actions including the gluing shut of numerous Airbnb key boxes in Granada during a coordinated protest against holiday rentals.
Last summer, large-scale demonstrations against mass tourism were staged across Spain, with activists arguing that the proliferation of short-term rentals is exacerbating the challenge for locals to secure affordable housing.