Tourist mobility during their stay in southern Gran Canaria relies primarily on three options: public transport, taxis, and rental cars. This is revealed by data from spring 2026, which coincides with a crucial debate on transport regulation on the island: the legal battle between the Island Council and ride-hailing companies like Uber and Cabify.
During the second quarter of 2026, the most frequently used mode of transport by tourists was "Urban public transport (bus, tram), excluding taxis," chosen by 27,60% of visitors. This was closely followed by "Taxi or similar" (27,39%) and "Rental vehicle" (25,56%). Breaking down the data by nationality reveals different patterns, such as German tourists being the main users of public transport (30,30%) and also standing out for exploring the island "On foot" (11,48%).
British tourists show a strong preference for "Taxi or similar" (39,80%), being the group that uses this option most. In contrast, they are the least likely to rent vehicles (12,57%). For Spanish tourists, "Rental Vehicle" is the dominant option, at 40,85%, well above the average. Public transport comes in second place (25,30%).
While tourists travel around the island using these options, the transportation sector is experiencing significant legal uncertainty that calls into question the current offerings in areas like Maspalomas. The Supreme Court has accepted for review an appeal by the Gran Canaria Island Council against a ruling by the High Court of Justice of the Canary Islands (TSJC) that mandated the granting of ten new VTC (private hire vehicle) licenses. The crux of the conflict lies in the application of the 1/30 ratio (one VTC for every 30 taxis), established in Canary Islands Law 13/2007 to limit the entry of operators like Uber and Cabify. The Island Council denied the licenses based on this law, protecting the taxi sector, but the courts, both at the first instance and in the TSJC, ruled in favor of the applicant companies in 2024 and 2025.
The Canary Islands council argues that the islands' insularity justifies stricter restrictions than on the Spanish mainland and that regional regulations should prevail. The Supreme Court will have to decide whether the doctrine of the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU), which in 2023 upheld the 1/30 limit at the national level, is directly applicable in the Canary Islands or whether the islands' particular circumstances require a specific analysis.
This case is being closely watched, as there are over 4.000 pending applications for ride-hailing services in Gran Canaria, held up by the current stringent regulations. The ruling will set a crucial precedent regarding the Canary Islands' ability to legislate autonomously on transportation and the future mobility model for the archipelago, at a time when the ride-hailing sector is demanding greater freedom to operate in tourist areas like Maspalomas, while taxis defend the sustainability of their service.
