The island president, Antonio Morales, leads the Gran Canaria delegation together with the Minister of Tourism, Carlos Álamo, with an agenda of meetings with more than 60 appointments
Álamo highlights the increase in national connectivity with an increase of 11,52% for the first three months of the year and an initial increase of 4,1% for the summer season
The Cabildo de Gran Canaria is participating this week in the International Fair of Madrid, Fitur 2025, with a delegation from the Ministry of Tourism and the Presidency, headed by Antonio Morales and the Minister of Tourism Carlos Álamo. The destination is presenting itself at the main event with the national tourism industry with the aim of consolidating the good moment of the sector, the increase in the level of spending by national tourists and the increase in turnover. In addition, the island destination has an increase in the number of places offered of 11,52% for the first three months of the year and an initial increase of 4,1% for the summer season. In this way, the national market, which is growing around 5% annually in volume and turnover, has doubled its connectivity in comparison with 2019, with an increase of 59.9% between January and March and 34,9% from April to September, with 150.000 more seats than in the summer of 2024.
According to the Gran Canaria Island Council, with the final data still pending, the island destination will close the year 2024 with approximately 4,7 million tourists, and with a higher turnover than in 2023, with a year-on-year increase of 5%, which is expected to be the highest in history. The meeting agenda of the Gran Canaria Island Council's technical team includes approximately 60 meetings with companies, agencies, airlines, tour operators, etc. "At this meeting we will see that the good progress and trend of the national market will continue in 2025, something that has already been anticipated," explained Carlos Álamo.
The Gran Canaria Tourism Councillor explained that this speaks of the destination's good moment for clients from the Peninsula and the Balearic Islands, since airlines schedule their seat offers based on the demand that exists. “In the year-to-date, until November, we have increased the number of visits by 5% compared to 2023, but we are below the volume of national clients compared to 2019. It is not something that worries us because since 2020 we have successfully carried out a market diversification process and these seats have been filled by other nationalities, since the majority are at maximum records,” explained Álamo. He indicated that the Gran Canaria destination shows high occupancy indicators, above 90% in recent months.
The councillor highlighted the increase in turnover as a key and absolute priority in the strategy of the Gran Canaria destination. “We have made a significant commitment since 2021, which has allowed us to invoice at the same rate as the rest of the destinations without having to resort to an exponential increase in the arrival of tourists. The complementary offer, such as gastronomy and the commitment to the zero-kilometre product, are being key to increasing turnover levels. And in accommodation, income is also very positive. December 2024 is the month with the highest hotel income in history. In relation to accommodation, all indicators, rates, income and occupancy per place are not only on the rise compared to 2023 but at record levels.
The Gran Canaria Tourism Councillor recalled that the priority in the island destination's strategy is in turnover and they are betting on a sustainable growth model through an increase in spending and a clear commitment to diversification, decentralisation, a clear and forceful promotional positioning around the local product, for a renewed and quality leisure offer and its own elements, as we said, in terms of sustainability that are already important and decisive elements for a growing percentage of customers today.
Therefore, we are facing the last year under the keys of this strategy, which is included in the Strategic Plan 2021-2025, with the intention of strengthening it and showing at the Fitur showcase how much we have advanced in recent years to be a leading destination that ensures an exceptional tourist experience with the best climate in Europe at any time of the year. In addition, we understand that we are going to confirm that the trend of the national market will continue along the same positive line as in 2024.
The Department of Tourism is optimistic that by 2025 a downward trend in inflation and a GDP growth of 2,3% are expected. The key for the Gran Canaria Tourism specialists is in the improvement of the destination and the product offered, together with the new segments of the island's offer, such as the gastronomic product, that related to active tourism and that based on offering experiences. In addition, the technicians presented a historic connectivity. Gran Canaria is directly connected to 26 national airports. There are only three that do not operate. The Island will have new connections in 2025 with cities such as Badajoz, Valencia, Almería or Córdoba. However, the number of places to travel to Gran Canaria has practically doubled since 2019, which makes it more convenient to fly to the destination from an airport closer to the place of origin.
Among the new developments in the analysis offered, the most notable was the increase, by 8 percentage points, of national visitors in Mogán, to account for 15% of the total, and an increase of 7,6% in the rest of Gran Canaria, without counting the tourist area of the South. 38,77% choose Playa del Inglés and San Agustín to stay; 22% do so in Maspalomas and 16% in the area around Las Canteras beach. They also pointed out that the tourist escalation, especially intense in the last decade, in the city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria continues, both in number of tourists and in the number of places, progressively increasing its accommodation capacity.
Presentations
Gran Canaria Tourism, through its stand integrated in the Canary Islands area, will present to the public at Fitur 2025 the main tourist attractions of the island, including the sun and beach with the best climate on the planet, and a renewed accommodation offer. On this occasion, it also aims to give greater prominence to the complementary offer, focusing on the improvement of the destination and the product offered, together with the new segments of the island's offer, such as the gastronomic product, the cultural product, the product linked to active tourism and the one based on offering experiences 365 days a year.
Furthermore, we want to highlight the convenience that Gran Canaria offers today for national customers, which allows for historic connectivity with direct flights from 26 national airports. “Right now there are only three airports in Spain without a direct connection to Gran Canaria,” said the councillor. “As usual, the 21 municipalities on the island will have a special role. As a novelty this year, we intend for several municipalities to be able to present their most outstanding attractions, whether they are leisure, around a gastronomic offer that is in fashion, a cultural agenda of great appeal, a calendar of first-class sports proposals with infinite possibilities 365 days a year and, of course, their charms and scenic benefits,” said Álamo.
To this end, during the presentation that will take place on Thursday, January 23, starting at 13:30 p.m. (peninsular time), the municipalities will take center stage. The president of the Cabildo, Antonio Morales, and the Minister of Tourism of Gran Canaria, will share the space provided by the Canary Islands with the mayors of Tejeda and Mogán. In addition, the island president Antonio Morales will present, together with the heads of the production company New Event, the main novelties of the Granca Live Fest 2025 music festival, one of the most important cultural events on the island in the summer, which will take place on July 3, 4 and 5 at the Gran Canaria Stadium.
The municipality of Mogán, with the presence of Mayor Onalia Bueno, will bring the novelties of the eighth edition of the Mogán Tuna and Sea Fair. This will take place in November and is one of the main tourist events of the municipality, which highlights one of the most prized products of the island's gastronomy.
In addition, the mayor of the municipality of Tejeda, Francisco Juan Perera, will present the Fiesta del Almendro en Flor, which highlights the natural and scenic appeal of the Gran Canaria summit as well as its main gastronomic, craft and folklore products. This is an event of National Tourist Interest, which takes place at the beginning of February and celebrates its 52nd edition. Tejeda intends to accompany its presentation with a tasting of its classic marzipan.
