Is it to avoid paying taxes? The tourism sector in Gran Canaria experienced a downturn this past spring. Data reveals a general decrease in the length of stay, averaging 9,1 days, a 6,28% drop compared to the same period last year, when the average reached 9,71 days. This reduction in vacation duration affects most source markets and types of accommodation.
But the most striking trend is something else entirely: the increase in stays in "friends' or family's homes, own homes, free home exchanges, or other private accommodations." This category rose by 27,59%, reaching an average of 18,13 days. This indicates a shift in behavior towards unregulated or zero-cost accommodation options for tourists, resulting in lower spending at the destination and a negative impact on the island's tourism industry. This type of tourist stays, on average, almost twice as long as tourists who stay in the regulated sector (9,1 days), but their economic contribution to the destination is significantly lower.
The decline is widespread. Spanish tourists, traditionally with shorter stays, reduced their average stay from 6,22 days in the spring of 2025 to 5,75 days in the same quarter of 2026, representing a 7,56% drop. The German market, the most loyal and with the longest stays, also experienced a decline, falling from 10,65 to 10,5 days (-1,41%). The "Other countries" group suffered the greatest setback, with a 10,23% decrease, from 11,54 to 10,36 days. Only the British market maintained slight stability, with a modest increase of 0,86%, reaching an average stay of 8,17 days.
The analysis by accommodation type reveals a critical situation for the non-hotel sector. The average stay in "Apartment or tourist villa" fell by 16,73%, settling at 8,71 days. Even more dramatic was the drop in "House or room rented from a private individual," which saw a 23,88% decrease in duration, falling from 13,65 to 10,39 days. The "Other" category also registered losses of 16,97%.
In the hotel sector, the situation was mixed and negative for most. While 5-star hotels showed a 13,12% increase, reaching 8,71 days, 4-star hotels experienced a slight decrease (-1,05%) to 7,56 days. The drop was more pronounced in mid-range and low-end establishments (1, 2, and 3 stars), which saw an 8,85% decrease in average stay, settling at 7,42 days.
