BRITISH tourists have been left heartbroken after Tenerife’s famous ‘black sand’ beach is closed just weeks before the holiday season gets underway.
Playa de Los Patos is an iconic secluded coast that attracts thousands of tourists each year with it’s unusual charcoal black sand.
AlamyThe secluded beach is almost a kilometre long[/caption]
AlamyThe Canary Islands are a hugely popular location for UK holidaymakers[/caption]
alamyHoliday season begins in a few weeks with brit’s escaping to the Canary Island coasts[/caption]
Despite it’s popularity, La Orotava Council announced on Friday that the tourist destination will remain closed for summer due to terrifying rockfalls that have occurred.
The news comes after the beach cliff experienced scary landslides on Christmas Day last year.
Since then the local council insists they have carried out emergency works to prevent the horrific debris from falling, but the cliffs remain unreliable.
Various areas along the cliff coastline like near beach access points are unstable, reports say.
Specialist geological workers claim they have assessed the cliffs and say more research must be done to prevent any future landslides.
After the local council met with the Directorate General of Coasts, it was concluded that the beach should shut for the summer to keep tourists safe.
The council also made it clear that the beach is part of the Costa Acentejo natural area, making the Tenerife Cabildo’s Environmental Department responsible to conduct much-needed research.
This includes a geological analysis of the condition of the cliffs, which could reveal whether the cliffs infrastructure is safe or at risk of landsliding.
But it’s not all bad news for tourists wanting to get pics on the iconic black sand as access to nearby black sand beaches Bollullo Beach and Ancón Beach remains open to the public.
The three beaches are renowned as being some of the most beautiful in the north of Tenerife.
They have steep cliffs surrounding them, giving them a sense of seclusion and privacy for holiday goers.
Their famous black sand comes from volcanic origin, dating back millions of years ago.
Molten lava fragments that cooled down and solidified upon contact with the sea created the amazing grains on the beach, gvi reports.
The news comes as Brits face a frosty reception from Tenerife locals after huge protests against ‘low quality’ tourists flocking to the Spanish islands.
Protests also took place at the same time in other popular Canary Islands including Lanzarote and Gran Canaria.
Cafe owner Anthony Caitucoli says Lanzorote is facing similar issues with housing but also much further beyond just that.
He called on the government to fix the issues instead of allowing British tourists to take all of the blame.
Caitucoli said: “There’s a shortage of homes for workers and those available are expensive to rent.
“There are also issues such as sewage from hotels and apartments being pumped into the sea.
“These issues need a solution but that solution is not banning tourists or making it harder for them to visit the Canary Islands.
“We need more investment from the government in infrastructure and housing and perhaps setting a daily limit of visitors at our main tourist attractions and natural parks.”
Suzanne Goodwin, 53, moved to Lanzarote last year after being a regular tourist for the past 25 years.
Her main concerns are with how the protests are coming across to Brits thinking about holidaying or even moving in like she did.
Why is Tenerife protesting against Brits?
RESIDENTS of the largest Canary Island seem to be at war with UK holidaymakers as they blast visitors with anti-tourism graffiti and emerging local campaigns.
Locals have been fuming that they are “fed-up” with “low quality” Brit tourists who only come for the cheap beer, burgers and sunbathing.
Now, they are demanding a tourist tax, fewer flights to the island and a clampdown on foreigners buying houses.
Some protesters are claiming that their anger is directed at the government rather than tourists as they ask for change.
They claim that AirBnBs and other holiday rentals are driving up the cost of living and that they are sick of the noise, traffic and rubbish that accompany the avalanche of vacationers that visit every year.
Jaime Coello, president of the Telesforo Bravo Foundation, said: “The quality of the tourist product is being destroyed by the investors and the regional government.”
Waves of anti-tourist graffiti that has been sprayed across the island to tell Brits they are not welcome.
Bitter messages outside tourism hotspots read “your paradise, our misery” and “tourists go home”.
“Locals are forced to move out and YOU are responsible for that,” said a furious printed sign.
Another read: “Tourists go home!”
The brewing chaos coupled with hatred for visitors is now scaring Brit tourists to go on a vacation in Tenerife.
And Jorge Marichal, a hotel chain boss in Tenerife, revealed that Brits were ringing up out of fear they would not be safe on their holidays to the island.
He said: “One of the problems I am facing is that clients are beginning to call and ask what’s happening here and whether it’s safe.”
While the hotel owner said he understands the pain of local people, he added that being “anti-tourist” is not the way to go in.
AlamyTourists will be unable to visit the iconic beach this summer due to fears of rockfalls[/caption]
AlamyThe beach reportedly experienced terrifying rockfalls on Christmas Day last year[/caption]
gettyThousands of people protested against tourism policies in Tenerife[/caption]
gettyOther protests took place in Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Madrid and Malaga[/caption]
rexA growing anti-tourist movement has swept the islands in past months[/caption]
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