Spending per client increases by 4,79% compared to the first months of 2023 with Germans and Nordics as the markets that bill the most in the island destination
The counselor highlights the recovery of Germans and Nordics, and the success of the market diversification policy carried out in recent years.
The island destination accumulates 1.399.831 tourist clients in the current year, which represents an increase of 15% compared to the 1.209.435 tourists in the first quarter of 2023
The tourism sector of Gran Canaria brought in 1.945 million euros in the first quarter of 2024 with an average expenditure per client of 1.608,3 euros, according to data published by ISTAC. This represents an increase of 19,2% in total billing compared to the first months of the previous year and an increase of 4,79% in the case of spending per person, a figure slightly higher than the current value of inflation in the Canary Islands. which is between 3 and 3.5%.
The Minister of Tourism of the Cabildo of Gran Canaria, Carlos Álamo, explained that the increase in turnover is the absolute priority in the strategy of the island government and it is also sought “that the client can find solid reasons to spend more far and wide. of the entire island based on a diversified and quality offer, which allows us to more equitably redistribute the wealth generated by the sector among the 21 municipalities of the Island.” He indicated that the improvement of the gastronomic offer of Gran Canaria, with new and powerful projects throughout the island is a good example of this, since now the client comes willing to know, enjoy and spend on the delicious cuisine and products of “a gastronomy that is fashionable.”
Carlos Álamo assessed the evolution of the sector in recent months positively, as well as pointing out that the increase in clients in the last months of 2023 and the first months of 2024 is also evident, with many national markets at historical highs. “In recent years we have made a significant commitment to the policy of attracting national tourist markets, since we saw how our two historically largest markets, the Germans and the Nordics, did not recover their usual behavior after Covid. Financial and energy problems, together with the threat of war, motivated a greater containment of spending in these clients, which made us react to reduce our dependence on these markets. Now we are seeing how these two markets recover, regain their leadership among Gran Canaria customers and maintain growth in other European markets such as the peninsula, Italy, the Netherlands and, of course, Germany.
Furthermore, Álamo highlighted among the ISTAC data, a reduction of 11,58% in spending on national and international transportation, a fact that he linked to the notable increase in connectivity, “which provides more options to the customer and produces competition that has allowed ticket prices to drop. This is a positive thing as the client has a larger budget to spend once they are on the island and I allow the income to be higher for the destination.”
Gran Canaria received a total of 494.149 tourist clients last March 2023, as published by Frontur, 22,6% more than in the same month of the previous year. Just shy of reaching half a million visitors, coinciding with the celebration of Holy Week, when it usually takes place in April. This milestone, with 494.149 tourists in one month, exceeds the volume of clients from last December and which was until now the largest number of tourists in history, with 465.099 visitors. In third place, in this 'top five', there is February 2024, with 457.306 clients. Behind them are March 2019, with 453.136 clients, and January 2024, with 448.376 tourists.
According to the data offered by Frontur, 44.953 correspond to national visitors, excluding the Canary Islands. Statistics on tourist movements from the National Statistics Institute of the Government of Spain indicate that 113.085 come from Germany, which implies an interannual growth of 36%. A total of 128.483 clients arrived from the Nordic countries, 23% more than in March 2023, confirming the recovery of the two main markets in Gran Canaria.
Meanwhile, in April, the island received 578.883 tourist clients, compared to the 56.329 clients in April 2023, so despite the factor of not having the Easter holiday, the statistical increase remains at 2,9%.
Germans spent the most in Gran Canaria during the first quarter of the current year, with 79.723.606,1 euros, 21,67% more in the year-on-year comparison. The Nordics followed with 66.449.341,9 euros (12,6% more); Netherlands with 51.869.182,2 euros and a growth of 69,15%; and the national market with 30.669.350,2 euros and an increase of 42,8% compared to the first quarter of 2023.
Accommodation is the segment that accounts for the increase in customer spending, with an increase of 17%, followed by food, with 6% more. One of the most benefited sectors is the commercial sector with a 25% increase in the year-on-year comparison due to the turnover of 57 million for the purchase of goods.
Gran Canaria accumulates 1.399.831 tourist clients in the current year, which represents an increase of 15% compared to the 1.209.435 tourists in the first quarter of 2023.
