Anti-tourism campaigns would seem to be having no effect whatsoever on the number of visitors holidaying in the Islands, according to the latest figures.
New statistics released by Spain’s National Institute of Statistics yesterday (Monday) show that nearly 1.56 million people travelled to the Canaries from abroad for a holiday in March, bringing the total for the first quarter (Q1) of 2025 to just under 4.4 million, a year-on-year increase of 2.1% compared to Q1 in 2024.
The March figure is particularly impressive bearing in mind that Easter fell in April this year and means that the Canaries have recorded a rise in visitor numbers for the 21st consecutive month.
The quarterly figures come on the heels of a record-breaking 2024 for the Islands, which welcomed unprecedented levels of tourists (15.5 million from other countries and over 2 million domestic tourists) and overall spending. Spending by tourists has massively outstripped inflation since 2019 (47.5% vs 20.8%), which is even greater good news for the Canarian economy.
The bumper numbers have been given a mixed reception depending on who interprets them. The authorities and the holiday industry are delighted that the headline-making campaigns by ecologists and local residents to deter holidaymakers have not achieved their goal. However, the figures are expected to spur campaigners to step up their protests at the next major demonstrations, due to take place on 18 May across the Islands, given the failure of the authorities to act to curb arrivals and limit the damage tourism is said to cause to the environment and the livelihoods of many who are priced out of the housing market by the spiralling use of property for short-term lets.
