The Gran Canaria Chamber of Commerce and Excelcan, the Association for Research, Study, and Excellence in the Tourism Sector in the Canary Islands, have presented their tourism outlook report for the last quarter of 2024, offering an in-depth analysis of the key factors shaping the tourism landscape in the archipelago.
The event featured remarks from Luis Padrón, President of the Gran Canaria Chamber of Commerce; Santiago de Armas Fariñas, President of Excelcan; and José Miguel González, Director of Consulting at Corporación 5, who emphasized the Canary Islands’ role as a leading tourism destination in Spain and Europe, with a firm commitment to innovation and sustainability to ensure balanced sector growth in the coming years.
Outlook for 2025
The report forecasts a consolidation of national tourism growth in 2025, with an estimated 5.6% increase in sector revenue. Key drivers for this growth include an expansion in air connectivity, with a 12.7% increase in capacity from the Peninsula; steady demand from European markets and the growth of long-distance tourism; as well as diversification towards a more sustainable and experiential tourism model. However, the report also highlights some challenges, such as the shortage of skilled labor in the sector.
Record Results for 2024
The tourism sector in the Canary Islands closed 2024 with historic results. The archipelago welcomed a total of 17,767,833 tourists, a 9.6% increase compared to 2023. This growth was primarily driven by the arrival of international tourists, who accounted for 88.83% of all visitors.
Tourism spending reached 22.35 billion euros, a 14.24% increase from the previous year. This growth is not only attributed to the increase in tourist arrivals but also to a rise in the average spend per visitor, which stood at 1,443.39 euros, a 4.08% increase compared to 2023.
Performance by Islands
In terms of island performance, Tenerife led with 7.2 million tourists, a 12.22% increase. Gran Canaria followed with 4.58 million visitors (+8.32%), while Lanzarote reached 3.2 million (+6.19%) and Fuerteventura welcomed 2.49 million tourists (+9.59%). La Palma also saw a strong growth of 14.41%, receiving 170,147 tourists.
Hotel Occupancy and Profitability
The average occupancy rate in 2024 stood at 74.32%, an increase of 2.10 percentage points compared to the previous year. The RevPAR (Revenue per Available Room) reached 97.84 euros, an 11.25% rise from 2023, reflecting the strong dynamism and profitability of the hotel sector in the Canary Islands.
The report closes with a positive outlook for 2025, noting that sustained growth and a focus on quality and responsible tourism will continue to be the key factors in consolidating the Canary Islands as a leading tourism destination in Europe.
Source: Cámara de Comercio Gran Canaria