The Foreign Office has updated its travel advice for the island group (Image: Getty)
Brits hoping to escape the winter blues by setting off for the have been warned to check travel advice before booking a last-minute holiday.
The latest alerts from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) about travel in the archipelago, which includes Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote, urges wariness of potential terror threats, crime and cultural and legal differences between and the UK.
There is currently “a high threat of terrorist attacks” around the globe from those who “view the UK and British nationals as targets” according to the FCDO, with Spain on a high national alert.
Seven people were for alleged Islamist terrorist links this week and one person was killed and two others injured in a machete attack at two churches in Cadiz in January 2023.
The Foreign Office also warned would-be travellers to avoid areas where political demonstrations could pose a safety risk – following a series of protests after Spain’s 2023 general election.
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Thousands of Brits flock to the Spanish archipelago each year (Image: Getty)
Luggage thieves and pickpockets can also pose a risk to unassuming travellers, the advice suggested, urging holidaygoers not to keep all their valuables in the same place and to keep a photocopy of their passports somewhere safe.
“‘Highway pirates’ [often] target foreign-registered and hired cars,” the FCDO added, “They may flag you down, claiming there is something wrong with your car or that you have damaged theirs.
“If you decide to stop to check the condition of a vehicle, stop in a public area with lights, such as a service station [and] be wary of anyone offering help.”
Travellers thinking about jetting off to Tenerife or Lanzarote were also urged to be aware of cultural differences from Britain – including adhering to a new law requiring Spanish hotels to collect personal data from guests including their ID or passport number.
The regulations, which came into effect on December 2, 2024, were met with backlash from tourists and hoteliers alike – with the latter . Despite this, the Spanish government has maintained that the change will help to improve national security.
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Ignoring the direct requests of a police officer to see identification in Spain can also fall under the criminal offence of “disobedience”, tourists were warned, and local forces are within their rights to hold non-natives at police stations until their identity can be confirmed.
The Canary Islands have long been a favourite holiday destination for Brits, with nearly 40% of the 15.5 million international visitors the archipelago welcomed in 2024 hailing from the UK.
But the island group, just off the northwest coast of Africa, has not been exempt from the downsides to growing interest abroad – with thousands of locals taking to the streets of Gran Canara last summer calling for a crackdown on overtourism.
The rise in foreign travel, driven by cheaper flights and accelerated post- demand, has caused high house prices, environmental damage and wealth inequality to soar in popular cities and countries across the world.
The Canary Islands has launched a public consultation on how best to tackle the problem, with ideas on the table including a tourist tax, restrictions on holiday homes and improved wages for local workers.