Fury in Canary Islands over UK tourists dancing in Tenerife streets

A quirky tourist trend in Tenerife has sparked a heated debate among locals, with some questioning whether it reflects how British holidaymakers are perceived on the island. So-called “silent disco walking tours,” where groups don headphones and dance their way through public streets, have become increasingly popular in hotspots in the south of the island.

Participants follow a guide, listening to music through wireless headsets while singing and dancing along routes lined with bars, restaurants and residential areas. While many tourists see it as harmless fun, residents and local media have been left unimpressed. Videos circulating on social media show groups chanting, waving their arms and performing choreographed routines in busy public spaces – often drawing stares from passersby. For some residents, the spectacle has become a symbol of what they describe as disruptive tourist behaviour, even taking to describe the activity as a “tourist circus”.

Critics argue the tours, including those organised by Silent Adventures, can be intrusive, particularly in quieter neighbourhoods, even if the music itself is not audible to those without headphones. The visual impact, they say, is enough to disturb the atmosphere and contribute to concerns about over-tourism.

For some, South Tenerife appears to now cater almost exclusively to visitors, allowing holidaymakers to spend their entire stay without engaging with Spanish culture or language. Some social media users have even compared parts of Tenerife to a “theme park” created for tourists, according to Canarian Weekly.

One local commentator questioned whether the trend reinforces stereotypes about British visitors, one of the Canary Islands’ most important tourism markets, suggesting it risks portraying them as loud or inconsiderate – even when the activity is organised and legal.

The debate comes amid wider tensions in parts of the Canary Islands, where rising visitor numbers have prompted protests and calls for more sustainable tourism policies.

Locals say the current tourism-driven economy is putting unsustainable pressure on daily life, including a reduction in housing supply due to short-term holiday rentals and higher rents, which are pushing residents out of their neighbourhoods, overcrowding in popular areas, especially during peak seasons and strains on waste and water shortages and damage to natural sites.

Large demonstrations have taken place across the islands, with thousands of residents marching under slogans like “The Canaries have a limit.” Protesters are not against tourism itself, but argue that the current model prioritises visitor numbers over residents’ quality of life. Campaigners and local groups are urging authorities to adopt more sustainable tourism policies, such as limits on visitor numbers and diversifying the economy to reduce reliance on tourism.

The Express has contacted Silent Adventures for comment.