In the Canary Islands, and especially in Tenerife, immigration from abroad has continued to be the key driver of population growth during the 21st century. Its contribution represents approximately 75.1% of the increase experienced since 2001. In this respect, the island of Tenerife currently has a migrant population characterized by its numerous and diverse origins, the most common being those from American and European countries, which represent almost 90.1% of the population residing in the Canary Islands. The remaining proportion corresponds to the population of African and Asian origin.
However, the African population has been the focus of the Canary Islands' political and media agenda since 2006, following the migrant boat crisis. At that time, the Canary Islands received a total of 31,678 migrants arriving irregularly by sea. But this figure was surpassed in 2023 with the arrival of more than 35,000 people, according to data from the Spanish Ministry of the Interior. The Atlantic route has been active since 1994, but it was around 2006, with the aforementioned crisis, and from 2020 onwards, that migration intensified.
The reactivation of the Atlantic route since 2020 is not only due to structural factors that exist in the multiple places of origin, such as economic precarity, recurring natural phenomena such as droughts or floods, or armed conflict, but also to a series of unforeseen elements, as noted by Vicente Zapata, a researcher in the Human Geography area at the University of La Laguna.
People who migrate irregularly and risk their lives to reach the Canary Islands by sea come primarily from African territories with a long history of high emigration rates, such as Morocco, as well as some sub-Saharan countries, most recently Senegal. In Senegal, an unfavorable economic situation, marked by the decline of crucial economic activities like fishing, and a period of political unrest characterized by the persecution of those who oppose the Macky Sall regime—which has made life quite difficult for many—have led Senegalese to seek opportunities elsewhere.
In addition to the above, there is the increased migration control on the Mediterranean routes—central and western—which were the preferred route for some of this population to reach Europe before 2020. The measures imposed by Northwest African countries following the COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictive migration deterrence policies implemented in recent years on the Mediterranean route have led to the Canary Islands playing an increasingly prominent role. While the Mediterranean route saw more than 140,000 arrivals in 2017, it registered a total of 52,228 people in 2020. Thus, the migratory flow has been channeled through the Canary Islands, diverting towards the Iberian Peninsula and the rest of Europe after passing through various autonomous communities.
Institutional management
The role of governments and societies in managing migration is fundamental, and according to Zapata, in recent years there has been an improvement in awareness regarding the magnitude and effects of this phenomenon. The Canary Islands are recognized as a transit territory for migrants arriving from Africa by sea, which has led to the implementation of resources and protocols. However, Zapata states that there are still outstanding issues, such as the continued presence of a very high number of unaccompanied migrant children who cannot be accommodated under optimal conditions, and that it is necessary to activate mechanisms of shared responsibility at the national level.
December 18th is International Migrants Day, commemorated to promote a more humane and orderly management of migration for the benefit of migrants themselves, as well as the communities of origin, transit, and destination. Zapata highlights a gradual progress in understanding the role of the Canary Islands in the migration process. However, she suggests that improving the reception conditions for irregular migrants in the country could be achieved through the development of a strategy involving the central government and the autonomous communities.
Despite the measures taken in the Canary Islands to address migration, Zapata indicates that the response has not always been quick or proactive enough. Furthermore, the flow of migrants will continue to be a persistent challenge for the Canary Islands unless the underlying factors that force people to migrate from their countries of origin are addressed. Therefore, the Canary Islands must continue preparing to offer the best possible reception, accommodation, and referral services, both to migrants in transit and to those who aspire to settle in the archipelago.
Efforts must be made to achieve a balanced distribution of migrants within the region, explore employment opportunities that may be attractive to this group, foster collaborative actions between the migrant and native populations, and adequately assess the resources needed to serve all migrants. In this regard, Zapata maintains that it is crucial to continually reflect on how migration can continue to be a driver of progress.
Negative perception
Mobility presents an opportunity for migrants to broaden their horizons. Their motivations are diverse, encompassing reasons related to seeking employment for a better personal and family situation, or for freedoms and rights that may not be available in their place of origin. However, a negative social perception of immigration often arises among the destination population, especially during times of economic crisis.
This perception stems from the belief that migrants strain limited resources, linking migration to competition. The professor explains that migrants are even considered to have comparative advantages, such as receiving more support than residents. However, the researcher in the Human Geography department at the University of La Laguna asserts that there is no specific, segmented aid based on a person's origin.
This situation breeds uncertainty, fuels rejection, and fosters xenophobic attitudes, leading to the spread of hate speech through social media, which is based on stereotypes and unfounded rumors. As a result, many people observe, listen to, and even come to believe this rhetoric, sometimes repeating it and becoming complicit in the deterioration of social harmony.
Hate speech spread on social media does not contribute to building a more cohesive society. In this context, Zapata argues that this phenomenon represents one of the fundamental problems that must be addressed by disseminating accurate information and raising awareness about migration and its understanding, promoting direct contact with migrants.
“Turning a blind eye to this reality would be a grave mistake,” the researcher said. “The Canary Islands would not be what they are today without the contributions of those people who, throughout their history, have arrived, settled, and contributed valuable elements to shaping their social, economic, and cultural structure.”.
Intercultural coexistence, the goal
The current model of sociability in the Canary Islands is more geared towards positive coexistence than towards true coexistence, which would be the ultimate goal. "And if it's intercultural, well, that's a bonus," Zapata adds. Therefore, achieving a state of full coexistence remains a challenge for the Canary Islands and any other part of the world, a multicultural territory that aspires to become increasingly intercultural.
This can be achieved through the work promoted by government institutions and sectors such as education, “recognizing that coexistence is as fundamental as having the best airports, hospitals, and transportation infrastructure.” Zapata argues that it is necessary to invest in coexistence to build a cohesive and genuinely diverse society. In fact, the human and cultural diversity found in the Canary Islands could even be an additional tourist attraction—beyond the scenic beauty—as has been highlighted for many years.
For the past 14 years, intercultural coexistence has been promoted in Tenerife through the cultural diversity management strategy known as "Together in the Same Direction." Its director, Vicente Zapata, emphasizes that this project encompasses various areas of action, based on the independent work of groups such as "Against Gender Violence," "Social Participation," "Interreligious Dialogue Tenerife," "Tenerife Anti-Rumor Strategy," "Children's Participation 'Little Friends'," "Youth for Diversity," "Citizen Participation in El Fraile," and "Citizen Participation 'Taco for Everyone'.".
Furthermore, they have the strategic framework for intercultural coexistence called "Tenerife Lives Diversity," which has been under development since 2019 and is currently being implemented in collaboration with the municipalities of Granadilla de Abona, Adeje, Buenavista del Norte, and Puerto de la Cruz. Starting in 2024, they will assess, together with the Tenerife Island Council, the incorporation of other municipalities. Zapata points out that "Together in the Same Direction" is a well-established project closely linked to the "Intercultural Cities" program, a joint initiative of the Council of Europe and the European Commission to promote intercultural coexistence.
“'Together in the Same Direction' is a top-tier resource for continuing to work on managing cultural diversity and promoting social coexistence with an intercultural approach,’ he affirms. Furthermore, the researcher in the field of Human Geography maintains that it is one of the few projects in Spain where such a close and enriching connection exists between the scientific and institutional spheres.
On the other hand, Zapata is also involved in the "Neighborhoods for Employment: Stronger Together" project, launched by the Tenerife Island Council in 2015 and coordinated by a network of six organizations, including the University of La Laguna through its General Foundation, which has experience in employment programs aimed at groups facing the greatest difficulties entering the labor market. Within this project, the "Get Closer" initiative stands out, created to better address the specific needs of migrants and improve their employability.
Migration flows will continue to be a persistent challenge in the Canary Islands. Therefore, institutions must not only continue raising awareness about migration, developing protocols, allocating resources, and promoting intercultural coexistence, but it is also crucial to continue researching this phenomenon. “There are still understudied aspects, such as the situation of second-generation migrants, who are at a greater disadvantage compared to people in their destination countries, especially regarding educational attainment and employment. Part of the challenge is to achieve greater social engagement to ensure that migration continues to be a driver of progress.”.
Scientific Culture and Innovation Unit (Cienci@ULL)
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