A snapshot of tourist spending in southern Gran Canaria: San Bartolomé de Tirajana's leadership. The economic engine of southern Gran Canaria is clearly reflected in the transactions recorded through point-of-sale terminals. The municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana has consolidated its position as the epicenter of international tourist spending on the island, reaching a total volume of €67.376.963,58 in 2025. This flow of capital, channeled exclusively through credit card transactions and POS terminals of a banking institution, allows for a precise profile of the behavior of foreign visitors to the destination. The German market leads the way in investment in the municipality.
German tourists spent an estimated €15.178.447,17, with an average spend of €40,41 and 247.475 active cards. This figure confirms the loyalty and high spending level of one of the most important traditional markets for the Maspalomas coast. Following them, the United Kingdom and Ireland, along with the Netherlands, strengthen the consumer base. British tourists contributed €9.626.503,82, with an average spend of €28,16 and 211.329 active cards, while Dutch tourists spent €9.585.601,29 with 217.071 cards and an average transaction amount of €27,35. The spending structure shows interesting variations when analyzing the average spend. Although the Scandinavian markets maintain a significant presence, their average spend is more modest.
Norway, with €6.245.789,46 in total spending and 165.627 cards, has an average transaction value of €25,98. Finland, meanwhile, has the lowest average transaction value in the detailed breakdown, at €24,91, although it handles a volume of €2.594.880,20 thanks to its 72.657 active cards. At the other end of the spectrum, French visitors and the "Other" segment show a greater capacity to spend per transaction, with average transactions of €40,63 and €42,48, respectively, suggesting a consumption profile more focused on higher value-added services or premium experiences.
The total number of transactions analyzed in San Bartolomé de Tirajana reached 1.347.341 unique cards, demonstrating the vitality of the commercial and service network in the southern resorts. These figures, which exclude domestic market activity, provide an accurate picture of the sector's profitability in 2025. The data, updated to April 2026, underscores that, although the number of visitors and the average length of stay may fluctuate, the spending power of international visitors continues to underpin the destination's economic structure.
The significance of this financial activity is consistent with the general trends observed in the Canary Islands. During 2025, total tourist spending in the islands reached record levels, exceeding €23.000 billion, an improvement driven by higher spending per visitor rather than a disproportionate increase in arrivals. Specifically for Gran Canaria, the year ended with a turnover of approximately €6.280 billion, with the south being the main driver, concentrating the bulk of the economic activity. The stability and growth observed in the POS indicators are not an isolated event, but rather confirmation of a destination model that prioritizes profitability and the quality of spending, ensuring the sustainability of the more than 230.000 people affiliated with the tourism sector who depend, directly or indirectly, on these daily transactions on the Gran Canaria coast.
