Tourists in Lanzarote have been hit with disruptive stunts, including gluing shut Airbnb key boxes and blocking access to popular beauty spots.
Videos shared on social media show campaigners applying strong adhesive to lock boxes used by holiday rental owners, potentially preventing arriving guests from accessing their accommodation.
The boxes, commonly attached to the outside of properties, contain keys that can be retrieved using a PIN code supplied by hosts.
View 3 ImagesIn another protest, activists were filmed placing red-and-white tape and unofficial warning signs around tourist attractions, including paths leading to volcanic viewpoints, in an apparent attempt to discourage visitors.
Images circulating online also show stickers attached to holiday rental properties carrying messages such as: “Your tourism kills our land.”
Campaigners say they are drawing attention to what they see as the impact of mass tourism on local communities, particularly rising housing costs and a shortage of affordable homes for residents.
Some activists have also left notes on rental vehicles warning visitors that they are “contributing to our displacement”.
View 3 ImagesOne message read: “By choosing this holiday home in our village, you are contributing to our displacement. We have nowhere to live. Travel responsibly. Don’t be complicit in this business.”
Graffiti carrying slogans including “Tourists go home” has also appeared in parts of the island.
The protests come amid record visitor numbers for Lanzarote. More than 400,000 travellers arrived from UK airports during the first three months of 2026, according to figures reported by local media.
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Residents’ groups across Spain’s tourist hotspots have increasingly voiced concerns about the impact of short-term holiday rentals and growing visitor numbers on local housing markets.
Similar action has been reported elsewhere in Spain. Earlier this year, hundreds of Airbnb key boxes in Granada were allegedly glued shut during a coordinated protest against holiday lets.
Large-scale demonstrations against mass tourism took place across Spain last summer, with campaigners arguing that the growth of short-term rentals is making it increasingly difficult for local people to find affordable housing.