One of Britain's most popular holiday destinations has been put at risk by a decision to drill for oil less than 40 miles off the coastline, claim local businesses and travel companies that operate in the Canary Islands.
Repsol, the Spanish oil and gas giant, has been given permission by the Spanish government to prospect for oil near Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, despite strong local opposition.
The regional government of the Canaries, Spain's second most popular tourism destination after Catalonia, has mounted a legal challenge against the project, saying it threatens its most important industry - tourism.
Bleak prospects: People on the holiday island of Lanzarote are worried that drilling for oil could affect tourism
More than 2.6 million Britons visit the Canaries every year and the seven islands - El Hierro, La Palma, La Gomera, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote - are famed for their 365 days of sunshine.
Inhabitants and business owners as well as major tour operators have voiced concerns that drilling could affect tourism and wildlife along the famous coastlines, particularly if there were an oil spill.
Tui Travel, the owner of Thomson and First Choice, has previously spoken about the risk of an oil spill damaging tourism forever on the popular islands.
'A tragedy of this kind would not just ruin a single tourist season, but would see the Canary Islands forever associated with oil, said Harald Zeiss, Tui's head of sustainability, in a letter to the Fuerteventura's government.
Outrage: There are fears over the islands' future if drilling goes ahead
ABTA, The Travel Association, and and the UK Touroperators' Federation have also written to the Spanish government expressing concern about the decision.
In a letter, sent to Jose Manuel Soria, the Minister of Industry, Energy and Tourism, the organisations voice their 'great preoccupation' about the affects the decision will have on the tourist industry in the Canaries.
'The Canary Islands are one of the key tourist destinations for the United Kingdom as they are equally for the European markets and the prospecting and possible drilling for oil could cause considerable damage to tourism in this region,' the letter was quoted as saying by the Spanish national newsagency EFE.
Protests: Locals and the travel industry have publically condemned the decision to allow Repsol access to areas so close to the coastline
Over the weekend, several thousand people took part in demonstrations in Lanzarote, Tenerife and Fuerteventura against Repsol's plans.
The company intends to drill its first exploratory well in 2014 and if findings are positive to start commercial extraction in 2019.
Another 100 young demonstrators with black handprints on their faces protested outside the national environment ministry in Madrid.
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