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WITH its azure waters, abundance of marine and bird life and ruggedly beautiful landscape, the tiny island of Lobos in Spain’s Canary Islands is what travel dreams are made of.
However, from January 15, travellers wanting to visit Isla de Lobos, located just 2km from the more touristy Fuerteventura, to day-trip and relax on the spectacular beach of Playa de la Concha, now have to request a permit through an online system – or risk a hefty fine.
In a bid to protect the natural wonder from being loved to death, the local council has decided to limit visitors to no more than 400 people a day, divided into two lots of 200, The Sun has reported.
During peak periods, protestors previously counted as many as 2,000 tourists flocking to the island, which is less than 5km in total, on Saturdays and Sundays. Now each visitor can request permission for up to three people per day and there are two timeslots of four hours each.
Those who try to reach the white sand shores by boat will be fined and officials will be on hand to check everyone’s tickets.
“The aim is to guarantee the preservation of this unique space and natural park,” a spokesman for the island told The Sun.
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