I went to Gran Canaria for a week on holiday recently and I was completely shocked when I got there.Firstly, I found counterfeit bags being sold literally everywhere. Everywhere we walked we saw street vendors trying to push them off onto unsuspecting tourists. I couldn’t believe my eyes!
The bags looked so real that it was incredibly difficult to tell them apart from the genuine article. The prices were much lower than you’d expect for proper bags too, which made it even harder to spot the fakes. It was really worrying! You could easily spend your entire holiday budget in a few minutes if you weren’t careful.
The vendors weren’t making any effort to hide the fact they were selling counterfeit goods either. They were aggressively marketing their bags and it was quite intimidating. There were even signs on the walls warning people not to buy fake goods but the vendors were still brazenly selling them.
I felt so sorry for the locals in the area. It was clear many of them were trying to make a living off the tourist trade yet not even they could afford a real bag. Most were left to buy the counterfeit stuff or just go without. It didn’t seem fair at all.
My friends and I were in Gran Canaria for 7 days and not once did I see a police officer trying to stamp out the fake bag trading. It’s a massive shame as I felt it was pushing people away from the area. Surely with all the tourists around each season something should be done to help improve the local economy?
I decided I wanted to do something to help fight the fake bag problem and I was lucky enough to find a charity nearby. It was great to be able to donate directly to the locals’ cause and raise awareness about the situation. I saw that it made quite an impact, as the number of counterfeit bags being sold seemed to lessen over the week.
I met up with some of the charity staff who were working at the grassroots level to address the counterfeit bag problem. They were doing absolutely vital work in the area and it was great to hear first-hand about the impact they were having.
I also realised how important it was to educate the tourists before they arrived in Gran Canaria. Many of them had no idea about the fake bag market and could easily get scammed. It’s really important to make sure the message gets shared with as many people as possible before they travel.
Overall, it was a really eye-opening trip and I’m glad I got to experience the situation in Gran Canaria first-hand. I’m certainly more cautious now when it comes to shopping, and I’d urge anyone planning a trip to Gran Canaria to do their research into the counterfeit bag market.
Despite the counterfeit bag problem in Gran Canaria, I think it’s important to remember that the island still has plenty of positives. From the beautiful beaches to the stunning mountain ranges, there’s so much to explore and discover here that tourists don’t have to miss out because of a few fake bags.
I had a great time in Gran Canaria and there were plenty of moments I really enjoyed. From quad biking in the hills to drinking cocktails on the beach, I would definitely recommend a visit to the island to anyone looking for a proper holiday.
But no-one should ever feel safe when it comes to buying counterfeit goods. I was lucky enough to spot the fake bags in Gran Canaria before buying one, but not everyone is so lucky. It’s really important to do your research before you travel and make sure you know the signs of a fake before you even start shopping.
The locals in Gran Canaria need our help if any progress is going to be made with the counterfeit bag market. We can help them by spreading awareness about the issue, donating to local charities and supporting the island however we can. Even the smallest donations can make a big difference over time and it’s totally worth it.