Canary Islands shatter tourism records yet again
Tourism in the Canary Islands continues to break nearly every statistical record, particularly in key macroeconomic indicators. The latest figures for July reveal unprecedented growth in international arrivals and overall tourist spending—a crucial metric distinct from the total economic resources generated by the islands’ dominant tourism sector. This data also allows for an analysis of the cumulative figures for the first seven months of 2025 (January-July), painting a picture of sustained and remarkable growth that has been ongoing since mid-2022.
Historic numbers for July and the year to date
According to statistics released this Monday by Spain’s National Statistics Institute (INE), from its Frontur and Egatur studies, the Canary Islands welcomed 1.23 million international tourists in July alone. This marks the highest figure ever recorded for the month, representing a 6% increase compared to July 2024—which was itself a record-breaking year with 15.2 million total international visitors.
This stellar July performance brings the cumulative total for 2025 to just over 9.07 million international visitors. This is a 4.3% increase from the same period last year, meaning the islands have welcomed nearly 400,000 more foreign tourists (390,000) so far this year. If this average rate of international arrivals continues, the total influx for 2025 could grow by approximately 600,000 people. This would guarantee a new all-time annual record for international visitors, with a figure close to 15.8 million, and would also smash the islands’ overall record for total tourists (domestic and international), easily surpassing the 18 million mark. The current record, set in 2024, stands at 17.7 million total visitors.
Soaring tourist spending adds to the boom
But the record-breaking visitor numbers are only part of the story. The overall tourist spending by international visitors—a key indicator of economic solvency for the tourism sector, though not equivalent to the total tourism revenue retained in the Canaries—is also skyrocketing. And this is all happening before the traditional high season (from this October through Easter 2025), which is also showing promising signs.
In July, this spending variable grew by a staggering 14% compared to its absolute value in July 2024, reaching a historic record of 2.2 billion euros for the month. Furthermore, the cumulative spending for the first seven months of 2025 has already reached 14.089 billion euros. This is an impressive 8.2% more than in the same period in 2024—a year that itself demolished nearly all previous records.
Key factors driving the growth
This powerful increase in tourist spending is supported by several favorable factors working in concert. First, more tourists are choosing the islands (a 6% increase in July). Second, the average spending per visitor is up (a 7.6% rise). Third, the average length of stay has not declined but has instead increased slightly, now at 8.3 days—a 2.1% rise from last July. All these advantages combine to fuel a powerful growth vector for the archipelago’s economy.
How the Canaries compare to mainland Spain
The tourism surge in the Canaries mirrors the overall trend in Spain, which saw international arrivals grow by 4.1% in the first seven months of the year, reaching a total of 55.5 million foreign tourists. In July, the Balearic Islands were the top destination, contributing 23.3% of all international arrivals to Spain, followed by Catalonia (21.3%) and Andalusia (14%). As is typical during the peak summer holiday months, the Canary Islands were not on this particular podium for July.
However, for the cumulative January-July period in 2025, the Canaries secure a strong second place. With 9.1 million international visitors received so far this year, they rank just behind Andalusia (11.6 million) and ahead of the Balearic Islands in third place (9 million). This positions the archipelago as one of Spain’s most powerful and consistent tourism engines.
