Despite the quarterly decline in tourist arrivals, the British market plays a significant role in cushioning the impact and maintaining the Canary Islands as a strong tourist destination.
On September 17, 2024, the Chamber of Commerce of Gran Canaria and Excelcan (Association for Research, Study, and Excellence in Tourism in the Canary Islands) presented the tourism report for the second quarter of the year. This report provides a detailed analysis of the factors that have influenced the tourism sector in the Canary Islands, a key element for the region’s economy and development.
The event featured the speeches of the president of Excelcan and the Tourism Commission of the Chamber, Santiago de Armas Fariñas; José Carlos Francisco, president of Corporación 5; and José Miguel González, director of consulting at Corporación 5.
During this second quarter of 2024, the Canary Islands received a total of 3,907,383 tourists, marking a 20% drop compared to the previous quarter, equating to 927,162 fewer tourists. This decline, largely due to a reduction of over one million foreign tourists, was partially offset by an increase of 88,566 domestic tourists. Despite this quarterly decrease, when compared to the same period in 2023, there was a 7.14% growth, with 260,453 more tourists than the previous year.
This trend reflects a typical seasonal pattern, where tourist numbers decrease after Easter, which took place in March 2024. However, the resilience of the Canary Islands as a destination is evident in the year-on-year growth of visitors, proving the region remains attractive to international tourists.
One of the key highlights of the report is the importance of the British market, which contributed 41.07% of the total expenditure during this quarter, followed by the German market at 16.39% and the domestic market at 7.78%. Despite the moderation in tourist arrivals, the sector has shown a moderate yet steady recovery, as reflected by the 7.8% increase in sales for Spanish tourism businesses compared to the second quarter of the previous year.
The data also reveals that 62.50% of Excelcan’s members maintained or increased their turnover during this period, although at a lower intensity than in the first quarter of 2024, when 85.7% had reported improvements.
In summary, tourism in the Canary Islands has demonstrated its capacity for recovery and adaptation to market fluctuations, largely supported by the loyalty of the British market. These findings highlight the importance of continuing to strengthen the Canary Islands’ appeal as a key European tourist destination.