The BBVA report confirms that the Canary Islands remain among the leading regions in card spending despite the national slowdown. In Maspalomas, hotels and leisure businesses are sustaining activity thanks to international tourism.
Maspalomas, the epicenter of tourism in Gran Canaria, has once again demonstrated its resilience even in a scenario of slowing tourist spending in Spain. According to the latest BBVA report, between May and August 2025, growth in card spending across the country slowed to 5,7% year-on-year. However, the Canary Islands, along with Madrid, Murcia, the Valencian Community, and Cantabria, were among the few regions that remained positive, and southern Gran Canaria is a clear example of this trend.
On the shopping boulevards of Playa del Inglés, in the non-hotel complexes of Campo Internacional, and on the Meloneras beachfront, foreign tourist spending has been key to cushioning the decline in national spending. While Spaniards reduced their spending rate to a modest 2,9%, international visitors maintained growth of 8,1%, with a particular impact on sun-and-beach destinations with extended seasons, such as Maspalomas.
Local business owners agree that the loyalty of Nordic, German, and British visitors has been decisive in a summer marked by competition from other Mediterranean destinations and rising prices. "Foreign customers continue to consider Maspalomas a safe haven, with quality services and a stable climate, which gives us an advantage over the Balearic Islands, which have seen a decline this year," says a spokesperson for the Federation of Hospitality and Tourism Entrepreneurs of Las Palmas (FEHT).
The BBVA report also indicates that non-face-to-face payments at agencies and accommodations—a leading indicator of bookings—remain positive. In Maspalomas, major tour operators are already reporting solid figures for the fall, with occupancy forecasts close to 80% in October and November.
In a context of economic uncertainty in Europe and inflationary pressure on tourism services, the destination's strategy is to strengthen its image as a winter resort on the Atlantic. The combination of guaranteed sunshine, high-quality hotel infrastructure, and a growing cultural and sports offering make Maspalomas one of the most solid hubs for tourism in the Canary Islands.
