October Tourism Snapshot: A Mixed Picture for the Canaries
The Canary Islands experienced a slight dip in hotel overnight stays during October, with figures declining by 0.7% compared to the same month last year, according to data released by Spain’s National Statistics Institute (INE). Despite this minor contraction, the total of 6,395,927 overnight stays represents a significant milestone: it is the second-best result ever recorded for the month of October in the archipelago’s history.
Visitor Numbers and Nationality Breakdown
Digging deeper into the numbers reveals a positive trend in overall visitor numbers. A total of 988,326 tourists stayed in Canarian hotels in October, marking a 0.32% increase from the previous year. The composition of these visitors, however, tells a more nuanced story. Domestic tourism from within Spain saw a notable decline of 8.1%, with 184,416 travelers representing 18.66% of the total. In contrast, international tourism proved resilient, growing by 2.5% to reach 803,910 visitors, who made up a dominant 81.34% of all guests.
Spending and Occupancy Trends
This shift towards international visitors is further reflected in the overnight stay statistics. Of the total 6.4 million overnight stays, Spanish residents accounted for just 690,900 (10.8%), while foreign residents were responsible for the vast majority—5,705,027 stays, or 89.2%. For travelers, the cost of a visit saw an upward trend. The average daily room rate climbed to €142.4, a 4.6% year-on-year increase, contributing to an overall price rise of 7.22% across the islands.
Leading the Nation in Hotel Performance
Despite these price increases, demand for accommodation in the Canaries remained robust. The region achieved an impressive occupancy rate of 76.2% in October, the highest of any autonomous community in Spain. It significantly outperformed other popular destinations like Madrid (66.62%) and the Balearic Islands (66.51%). At the other end of the spectrum, regions such as Castilla-La Mancha (41.15%), Extremadura (43.11%), and Asturias (44.46%) recorded much lower occupancy. This strong performance also translated into jobs, with the hotel sector employing 60,745 people, a 3% increase from the previous year.
Canary Islands Hold Key Share of National Tourism
When looking at the national picture, the Canary Islands solidified its position as a cornerstone of Spanish tourism. Together with the Balearic Islands (20.32%) and Catalonia (15.8%), the Canaries accounted for 18.66% of all overnight stays registered in Spain during the month of October, confirming its status as one of the country’s top three sun-and-sea destinations.
