Canary Islands Tourism Faces a Minor Dip in May 2025
Last May, tourism in the Canary Islands recorded one of the first negative figures in its long economic history. The slump was driven by a 2% reduction in the average daily rate (ADR) paid by hotel guests, dropping to €116.13 per room. Similarly, the revenue per available room (RevPAR) fell by 3%, settling at €85.96, according to the Coyuntura Turística Hotelera report for May 2025 by Spain’s National Institute of Statistics (INE).
Factors Behind the Decline
This shift contrasts sharply with May 2024, when ADR and RevPAR saw increases of 12% and 13%, respectively. The decline in 2025 can be attributed to two key factors: lower occupancy rates (60.9% vs. 61.7% in May 2024) and the transitional nature of May as the pre-summer period. Easter Week, celebrated from 14 to 21 April 2025 across Spain, also diverted some travelers earlier in the season.
Summer 2025 Forecast Looks Promising
Despite May’s slight downturn, the overall outlook for 2025 remains positive. Flight bookings for summer show an 8.4% increase in scheduled seats to the Canary Islands, signaling strong demand. La Palma is the only island with a decline (-4.6%), while Fuerteventura leads growth at 17%, followed by Gran Canaria (9.5%), Tenerife (6.5%), and Lanzarote (6.3%).
Hotel Price Index Trends
The Hotel Price Index (HPI) for the Canary Islands rose by 2.6% year-on-year in May 2025, the most moderate increase among Spain’s top tourist regions and below the national average of 5.73%. Since May 2008, the islands’ HPI has grown by 96.29%, slightly outpacing Spain’s 93.85% average. The Balearic Islands remain the outlier, with the highest HPI growth.
Top Destinations and Occupancy Rates
For domestic travelers, Andalusia, Catalonia, and the Valencia Region were the top choices in May 2025, accounting for 20.3%, 14.5%, and 11.8% of overnight stays, respectively. Among international visitors, the Balearic Islands led with 30.4%, followed by the Canary Islands (18.2%) and Catalonia (18.1%). Majorca recorded the highest overnight stays (6.2 million), while Madrid, Barcelona, and Calvià were the best-performing tourist spots.
Occupancy Rates Across Spain
Nationwide, May 2025 saw a 53.9% occupancy rate, up 1.7% from 2024. Weekend occupancy rose by 4.3% to 61.9%. The Canary Islands maintained the highest bedplace occupancy at 60.9%, though slightly lower than May 2024 (61.7%). Palma-Calvià topped regional occupancy at 75.1% (weekends: 79.7%), while Sóller achieved the highest spot-specific rates (85.5% weekdays, 85.6% weekends).
