Tourists from the Benelux countries (Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg) visiting southern Gran Canaria are well-established and, in many ways, highly valued by the island's tourism sector. Although there are differences between the three countries, they share characteristics that make them a loyal and attractive market. In the case of the Dutch and Belgians, these are very mature markets with a high level of loyalty to the Canary Islands.
Many of them have visited the islands multiple times (in the Belgian case, 7 out of 10 visitors had already been to the archipelago). They tend to opt for stays of "less than 7 nights," although there is a slight increase in longer stays, even "more than 32 nights." A significant percentage, especially the Dutch (76%), prefer to book a complete vacation package through tour operators or travel agencies, indicating a search for convenience and less independence in organizing their vacation.
The major Benelux tour operators are crucial to the flow of tourists to Gran Canaria. Names such as TUI (present in Belgium and the Netherlands), Sunweb (Netherlands), and Neckermann Belgium (part of Thomas Cook, now relaunched under TUI Group or its former assets) are major players marketing complete vacation packages, including flights and accommodation. There are travel agencies in the Benelux that specialize in sun and beach destinations, and Gran Canaria is a key pillar of their offering. These often smaller agencies offer more customized packages and cater to specific segments of travelers seeking specific experiences on the island.
Thus, this June, the Gran Canaria Chamber of Commerce hosted a new Meet & Greet event that consolidates the Business Club Canarias Benelux (BCCB) as a crucial space for promoting and connecting businesses between the archipelago and the Benelux region. These types of initiatives seek to build solid bridges through networking, collaboration, and a shared international vision. The event presentation featured the participation of prominent figures representing the interests of the Benelux countries in the Canary Islands. Speakers included Stan Weytjens, Honorary Consul of the Netherlands in the Canary Islands and founder of Grupo Menceyes; Jaime Castellanos, Honorary Consul of Belgium in Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, and La Graciosa, and aviation pilot; and Juan Andrés Melian, Honorary Consul of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in the Canary Islands and President of Viajes Insular, SA. Their speeches highlighted the importance of strengthening trade and investment ties.
Beyond the focus on business relationships, the meeting also offered a space for reflection on business leadership. Els Van Leemput, mental coach and member of the BCCB committee, gave a presentation entitled "The Value of Coaching for You and Your Company," inviting attendees to consider personal growth as a fundamental driver of business success. The success of this Meet & Greet was made possible thanks to the valuable collaboration of the Gran Canaria and Insular Canarias Beverage Chamber of Commerce (INCABE) and Heineken Canarias. The BCCB committee, for its part, continues to support meetings that not only unite and inspire, but also open new business opportunities between the Canary Islands and the Benelux region.
