Maspalomas, through Turismo de Gran Canaria, is following the growth path of the German market at the ITB Fair in Berlin. Looking ahead to 2025, a 6% increase in travel revenue is expected, with the same number of travellers remaining. Advance bookings for next summer have increased significantly since November, and the most popular destinations for tourists are Spain, Turkey and Greece. In addition, there is a notable growth in tour operations in Germany, where 75% of visitors arriving in Gran Canaria do so through this booking method. It has also been noted that awareness of the environmental and social impact on destinations is increasing, becoming a key factor for German tourists.
In terms of total revenue, German tourists are the largest contributors, with a projected 883,7 million euros for 2024. They are followed by Nordic travellers, very close to those from the United Kingdom, who were the most numerous. 2024 is shaping up to be the year with the highest revenue and volume of arrivals since 2018, when 978.759 visitors were recorded, influenced by the Arab Spring. In 2019, 874.742 German tourists arrived, while in 2020, due to the pandemic, the number dropped to 292.641. The recovery was gradual, with 407.466 in 2021, 720.959 in 2022 and 819.660 in 2023.
As regards the projection of places for next summer, a total of 233.488 places are estimated to be scheduled between April and June, which represents an increase of 28% compared to the previous year. For the second half of the low season, between August and October, 174.209 places are expected, 17% more. Experts have pointed out that Gran Canaria continues to be a preferred destination for tourists in winter.
Finally, in terms of visitor profile, 33% of German tourists are over 60 years old; 25% are between 45 and 60 years old; 21,5% are between 30 and 45 years old; and 19,9% are in the 16 to 30 age group. The main motivation for 52% of German tourists is to seek rest and tranquility, an increase from the previous 46%. Gran Canaria's gastronomy has become an important attraction, being the main reason for 35% of Germans who visit us, along with excursions to the Cumbre and Medianías and active tourism, such as hiking. 50% of travellers do so as a couple, 16% travel with children, 14% do so alone and 11% with friends. The four-star category continues to be the preferred one for 46,69% of German tourists who visit us.
