Tourists in Tenerife are facing widespread disruption as hospitality workers across the Canary Islands launch a major strike, demanding better pay and working conditions. Over 170,000 tourism employees are involved, walking out on Wednesday 17th and Thursday 18th April, with protests affecting hotels, restaurants, and transport.

Protesters say they’re losing purchasing power year after year, as salary increases lag behind rising living costs, while hotel owners continue to profit. Staff complain of exhausting work shifts, understaffing, and no work-life balance, with mental and physical health deteriorating across the sector. Leaflets handed directly to guests warn that minimum staffing levels are harming wellbeing and sick leave is soaring.

With unions demanding a 6.25% pay rise and rejecting a 4% offer from employers, talks have broken down — and the strike has gone ahead, hitting one of the busiest holiday weeks of the year.