The Gran Canaria delegation at the main fair of the German market, with the presence of the Councillor for Tourism of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria, Carlos Álamo, completed the second day with an intense agenda of meetings and positive feelings in the aim of growing more in turnover than in arrival volume in a year that begins with the best month of January since records began.
The second day of ITB Berlin has been just as intense as the first with a total of 45 meetings and professional encounters held with expectations of growth”, explained the Councillor for Tourism of Gran Canaria, Carlos Álamo, present at the meeting with the German market at ITB 2025. The increase in connectivity expected for the summer season, with 22% more places, together with the increase in spending per tourist and trip to the historic figure of 1.731 euros and the incorporation of the island's complementary product, compared to the traditional Sun and Beach, mark the current situation of the island's tourism sector at the reference event for the German client, with performance values never seen before and who once again choose the island of Gran Canaria as one of their preferred destinations.
In terms of turnover, the German client is the one who contributes the most to the total sum of the Gran Canaria destination with 1.360.188.261,20 euros in 2024, with an increase of 17,34% compared to 2023. This increase has been achieved with a 10,18% increase in the arrival volume with 903.023 German clients in 2024. Therefore, it is the second client in volume of Gran Canaria, first in turnover and its behavior is part of the strategy of growing more in turnover than in the number of visitors.
“We have just received the Aena figures for January and it has been the best January since records began and the third best month in history. The winter has been very good and turnover continues to grow, exceeding records every month. Furthermore, we are doing so without exceeding our ceiling or our capacity. Tourism is driving employment like never before and the sensations could not be better,” said Carlos Álamo, who leads the Gran Canaria expedition to the ITB.
“The feedback from these meetings is more than positive and we hope to be able to translate the good feelings into new collaboration contracts with a market that is essential for Gran Canaria, being the one with the highest economic performance for our industry and society. It is worth remembering that Germans travel 10% less than before Covid and our island is 3% above in this comparison. The interest in visiting our island is not only maintained, but growing, and the trend for 2025, with priority in billing, will be just as positive as that of 2024, as it is a tourist who returns to their greatest values and who now does so, in addition, with new tools and interests, with the addition of the complementary offer to the traditional Sun and Beach, with the interest in our gastronomy and with a desire to discover our trails and our natural offer”.
The forecasts that Turismo de Gran Canaria has for the year 2025 are positive both in terms of volume and turnover. Aena's passenger data for the month of January already confirm this upward trend and continuity with respect to 2024, such that the island destination has had the best January in its history, with the arrival of 460.303 total clients and an increase in the German market, the one with the highest economic performance for the island, of 9,70% to reach 93.724 German clients.
“In this sense, we believe that the Gran Canaria Tourism strategy implemented in the plan established for the period 2021-2025 is working, which establishes the priority of our industry in economic performance. What we see in January and in the last few years is that, having the accommodation capacity that we have, we have been attracting a higher-spending client to replace others, in such a way that the places are at maximum occupancy, but now with greater profits, both in their accommodation and in daily spending outside the hotel, which has increased significantly,” explained the Gran Canaria Tourism Councillor, Carlos Álamo.
16 airports connected
In relation to airports, the island destination is directly connected to 16 German airfields. This year, three more are being added than those linked in the summer of 2024, with the reopening of Baden-Baden, Memmingem and Muenster. Among the airports that are growing the most in passenger volume with Gran Canaria, the ones in Frankfurt, Munich and Berlin stand out.
The forecast for places for the summer of 2025 remains on the rise, with 233.488 places scheduled between April and June, an increase of 28% compared to the previous year, and 17% between August and October, with 174.209 places.
Gran Canaria will also have new routes and flights compared to 2024. Ryanair will also fly from Karlsruhe / Baden Baden and Memmingen. Sundair will do so from Muenster. Condor (279.542), Tui (207.828) and Lufthansa (234.291) are the airlines that bring the most customers to Gran Canaria.
It is worth noting that Germans spend the most time in Gran Canaria, with an average of 11,8 days per trip.
As for the profile of the German customer, 33% 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 between 16 and 30 years old. The main motivation of the German customer remains rest and the priority is placed on the element of tranquility for 52%, while in 2023 it was important for 46%.
50% travel as a couple, 16% with children, 14% alone and 11% with friends. 70% book their flight through a tour operator, travel agency or similar. 28,34% arrange it directly with the accommodation and the company. 73,56% book their flight through a tour operator, travel agency or similar. 15,66% arrange it directly with the accommodation and the company.
The four-star option remains by far the preferred choice for 46,69% of German visitors. Among the main activities on the island: The beach for 81,73%; followed by walking (53%), visiting the island (47,85%), enjoying the pool (41%) and the gastronomic experience, a main activity of the visit for 33,28% of German visitors. In addition, 41,20% have been to Gran Canaria five or more times. 19% three or four times and 14,9% one or two. This market has 68% repeaters.
