Lanzarote protesters glue shut Airbnb key boxes in furious anti-tourism protest
Protesters in Lanzarote, Canary Islands, have shared footage on social media of their demonstrations against mass tourism, including allegedly gluing shut Airbnb key boxes and taping off popular tourist spots amid a growing housing crisis
Key boxes have been glued shut(Image: undefined)
Holidaymakers in Lanzarote have encountered a string of disruptive demonstrations, including key boxes being sealed with adhesive and access to beloved tourist attractions being blocked.
Video footage spreading across social media reveals activists using strong glue on lock boxes utilised by holiday rental owners, potentially stranding incoming visitors outside their lodgings.
These containers, usually mounted on building exteriors, store keys that guests can retrieve using a PIN number supplied by property managers.
During another protest, campaigners were filmed positioning red-and-white barrier tape and unofficial warning signs around visitor attractions, including routes to volcanic observation points, seemingly attempting to discourage tourists.
Images surfacing online additionally show stickers attached to holiday rental buildings displaying slogans like: “Your tourism kills our land.”
Activists assert they are drawing attention to what they view as the impact of mass tourism on indigenous populations, particularly rising property prices and insufficient affordable housing for locals.
Certain demonstrators have also placed notices on hire cars alerting tourists that they are “contributing to our displacement”.
One note stated: “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 bearing messages such as “Tourists go home” has also cropped up in various parts of the island. These protests coincide with record-breaking visitor numbers for Lanzarote. Over 400,000 travellers landed from UK airports during the first quarter of 2026, according to statistics shared by local press.
Residents’ associations throughout Spain’s most frequented tourist hotspots have been increasingly outspoken about the impact of short-term holiday rentals and escalating visitor figures on local housing markets.
Similar discontent has been reported elsewhere across Spain. Earlier this year, hundreds of Airbnb key boxes in Granada were reportedly glued shut in a coordinated protest against holiday lettings.
Widespread protests against mass tourism swept Spain last summer, with activists arguing that the surge in short-term rentals is making it increasingly difficult for local inhabitants to find affordable accommodation.
