Canaries: Fines for Rescued Tourists Loom

The Canary Islands are preparing to impose significant fines on tourists whose negligence necessitates rescue operations. This measure, part of an upcoming Civil Protection Law, aims to prevent public funds from covering the costs associated with reckless behavior by visitors.

Recent incidents, including a tragedy in Tenerife on December 7, where four tourists died after ignoring sea warnings, and a similar event in Lanzarote on January 25 resulting in a fatality and injuries, have underscored the need for this legislation. These events involved visitors disregarding safety alerts and barriers.

While specific amounts are not yet disclosed, fines are anticipated to be high, potentially reaching thousands of pounds per rescue, with helicopter rescues alone costing approximately €6,000 (£5,220). An older law from 2012 established fees for rescue services, but these were never collected due to complexities in proving negligence and foreign national accountability.

The Canary Islands Police will now be responsible for managing these fines, empowered to investigate cases and initiate administrative proceedings. This directive follows a period where rescue operations, both at sea and on land for hikers, have been frequent, with 216 coordinated by the government in 2025.