The Canary Islands have reached unprecedented heights in international tourism. In the first seven months of 2025 alone, the archipelago welcomed over nine million foreign visitors, who collectively spent more than €14 billion. Despite warnings from business leaders about a possible slowdown, the latest official figures reveal no signs of fatigue in the sector.
Record-Breaking Arrivals
According to the National Statistics Institute, July 2025 was the best July in the islands’ history. A total of 1,231,090 international travellers arrived, marking a 6% increase compared to July 2024—already a record month. By contrast, Spain as a whole registered a more modest growth of 1.6%.
This milestone extends an extraordinary streak: the Canary Islands have now recorded 25 consecutive months—more than two years—of welcoming over one million tourists each month.
Growth Since the Pandemic
Between January and July 2025, the archipelago received 9,071,175 foreign visitors, a 4.3% rise on the same period last year. This sustained growth has been a consistent feature since the post-COVID recovery, with the Canary Islands firmly re-establishing themselves as one of Europe’s most resilient tourism hubs.
Spending at Historic Levels
Visitor spending has soared alongside arrivals:
- July 2025: €2.219 billion spent by international tourists, a 14.4% increase year-on-year.
- Cumulative total for Jan–Jul 2025: €14.088 billion, up 8.23% from 2024.
The average tourist spent €1,803 per trip, which is 7.6% more than in 2024. Daily expenditure also rose by 5.4%, reaching €218 per person, while the average stay lengthened slightly to 8.3 days.
Economic Outlook: Optimism with Caution
The Canary Islands Economic Bulletin for the second quarter of 2025, issued by the Chamber of Commerce of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, points to strong domestic demand, a dynamic labour market, and controlled inflation as key drivers of growth.
However, its president, Santiago Sesé, underlined that expansion is occurring “at a more moderate pace” compared with early 2025, citing the gradual cooling of tourist activity. While population growth and job creation sustain household spending, weaker business confidence and slower investment are signs of caution.
Even so, Sesé noted that the Canary Islands remain “among the top-performing regions in Spain,” with growth expectations of around 3% for the year, in line with the national average.
Warnings from the Tourism Sector
Business groups continue to warn of future headwinds. Excelcan, an alliance of major tourism companies, predicted earlier this year a stagnation in growth during 2025 and a slight decline in 2026.
Vice-president José Carlos Francisco pointed to increasing competition from rival destinations pursuing “aggressive pricing strategies,” which could erode the Canary Islands’ market share. He also highlighted uncertainty about economic conditions in Germany, France, Italy, and the UK—the region’s largest source markets.
While the Canary Islands currently enjoy record-breaking levels of international tourism and spending, business leaders remain wary of external risks and rising competition. The challenge ahead lies in maintaining momentum and diversifying the economy, ensuring the archipelago’s long-term resilience beyond its booming tourism industry.
