ALERT: Warning to Irish people on holiday in Spain amid 'stay away' protests

Irish tourists heading on holidays to Spain have been hit with advice over public protests from the Irish Government following reports of local unrest in some tourist hotspots.

There have been reports of protests against over tourism in holiday hotspots like the Canary Islands and Majorca recently.

A number of protests in the like of Tenerife, Majorca and Malaga have seen holidaymakers from Ireland, Britain and beyond to "get out", "stay away" or "go home."

A poster spotted by some in Malaga recently advised tourists to "f**k off home" while in Tenerife graffiti marking the words "go home" has been reported.

Last summer, a video circulated online of protesters shouting at tourists and telling them to "go home" at a popular resort on the island. The Canary islands in particular are hugely popular with Irish tourists.

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There are tensions over housing with some local tenants reportedly being given notices to leave properties to make way for holiday rentals. In Malaga, locals are said to be sick of the situation.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has issued specific advice on how Irish people can deal with a situation if they are caught up in protests.

They say: "Public gatherings and demonstrations can at times take place with little or no warning. We recommend that you stay clear of demonstrations and follow the advice of the local authorities.

"Protests may cause disruption to transport and other services. Be prepared to adjust your travel plans at short notice if necessary, and allow yourself extra time for your journey. You should also check for travel updates or transport delays before and during your trip to Spain."

Elsewhere, a number of changes in policy have even been introduced in Magaluf, a noted party holiday spot on the island of Majorca. Authorities are clamping down on what they deem to be the "aggressive sale" of alcohol, including happy hours and the times during which alcohol can be sold at supermarkets. 

Magaluf Mayor Alfonso Rodriguez has said they are tackling other issues like "the degradation of women with wild party games in the large pubs.

"We’ve banned pub crawls and the advertising of party boats, which are no longer allowed to sell alcohol on board," he is reported as saying in a local publication.

In terms of the Canary Islands like Lanzarote, Tenerife and Gran Canaria, the Canary Islands Tourist Board told us last year they still want tourists and defended the holiday industry their against local protest in terms of the environment and cost of living for locals.

"The influx of tourists is very stable throughout the year, with hardly any seasonality. Nationalities alternate and net balances are compensated," the tourism spokesperson said.

"This means the presence of 312,216 tourists in the Canary Islands daily, so the pressure on the territory and its resources and the local population is much less than in other destinations that concentrate the arrival of tourists in specific periods of the year."

They also pointed out the climate action taken in the region to mitigate environmental impacts.

"Our destination has been a pioneer in taking on the goals and commitments set out in the Glasgow Declaration, which pursues Net Zero by 2050. We were the first Spanish region to adhere to this commitment with a Climate Action Plan. 

"In addition, we have made the digital tool Journey to Decarbonisation available to tourism companies, which will allow the sector to measure and reduce its carbon footprint," they concluded.