Spain holiday warning as Tenerife strike chaos begins and tourists told to act (2025)

The Foreign Office has issued an alert for industrial action planned across the hospitality sector in Tenerife over the Easter bank holiday weekend

An urgent alert has been broadcast for Easter holidaymakers planning to visit Tenerife. The Foreign Office warns of industrial action in the island's hospitality sector over the bank holiday weekend.

Tourists are advised to consult their travel provider for guidance and to adhere to instructions from local authorities if travelling to the area. Hospitality staff across Santa Cruz de Tenerife province have started picketing outside hotels, coinciding with a two-day strike from yesterday, putting a damper on Easter vacation plans.

The Foreign Office warning states: "Industrial action is planned in the hospitality sector in Tenerife over the Easter bank holiday weekend. If you're due to travel to Tenerife this weekend, check your operator's advice and follow the advice of authorities."

The two-day action impacts approximately 80,000 workers from the hotel sector in Tenerife, El Hierro, La Gomera, and La Palma. It comes after the latest proposal from the employers' associations was turned down despite conciliation attempts led by Fernando Clavijo, the President of the Canary Islands.

The rejected deal included a 6% pay rise, the introduction of adjustable beds, and establishing a negotiation table by April 30 to address additional labour concerns. However, union representatives deemed the offer insufficient, leading to the strike's continuation, reports the Mirror.

In contrast, the province of Las Palmas - encompassing Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, and Fuerteventura - managed to stave off strike action by securing an agreement that awards workers a €650 (£558) bonus and a 9% wage increase over 12 months.

Despite the Canary Islands government imposing minimum service levels—varying from 15 to 25 %—for essential services such as reception, maintenance, food services, and cleaning, unions have criticised these requirements, arguing they violate the basic right to strike.

With Tenerife seeing a surge in tourists during the Easter holidays, the strike will present significant hurdles for the hospitality industry. Union leaders have called on employers to propose a more agreeable proposal to settle the dispute, expressing their readiness to restart negotiations.

During this period, visitors to the Spanish island have been advised to expect potential disruptions to hotel services and to stay informed about the latest developments.

This strike comes amidst further warnings of travel chaos and major disruptions for millions of British holidaymakers this summer. In an exclusive conversation with the Mirror, one Spanish protest leader said fears are mounting over extreme action being taken by militant groups.

In the worst cases, this may include blockades at airports, beaches, and other hotspots as anti-tourist sentiment reaches a fever pitch in Spain. The protester, concealing his identity under the pseudonym 'Lucas', delivered a grave caution regarding the potential intensification of protests if their grievances are overlooked.

He reportedly said: "The general mood is one of growing frustration, indignation, and despair. People feel that they are being expelled from their own land and that their fundamental rights are not being protected. People have had enough."

He further added: "There is a widespread feeling that the situation has reached a breaking point and that it is necessary to act urgently and decisively to reverse it.

"The patience of the citizenry is running out. We are not going to stand idly by while we see our homes and our lives threatened by speculation and an uncontrolled tourism model."

Animosity towards tourists is on the rise in Spain, as illustrated by a disturbing message to 'kill a tourist' found in Tenerife earlier this year. Footage of the alarming graffiti was shared online by a group called Islas de Resistencia, which describes itself as 'a project to recover the memory of social movements in the Canary Islands'.