July 2025 presents a worrying picture for tourism in Gran Canaria, especially in the south of the island, where the dependence on British visitors and the volatility of the pound sterling are beginning to affect spending and the performance of hotels and services. The pound sterling has performed unevenly against the euro over the past year. In April 2025, it reached a high of around €1,20, while in July it fell to €1,1429, marking its lowest point for the period. During the summer, the currency hovered around €1,15 and stabilized in September at €1,1451. The average for the last six months was €1,1671, confirming a slight depreciation compared to the beginning of the year (€1,18), which reduces the purchasing power of British tourists and directly affects average spending in the south of the island.
The United Kingdom, the main source of arrivals for southern Gran Canaria, saw slight growth in arrivals with 95.677 tourists (+3,90%) and 94.961 foreign passengers (+5,04%), but the pound effect limited spending per visitor. Domestic tourists increased by 23,39% in July (58.845), although cumulative figures show a moderate growth of 1,37% (326.783). In July 2025, Gran Canaria received 95.677 tourists from the United Kingdom, representing an increase of 3.595 people (+3,90%) compared to July 2024, and a cumulative annual total of 624.367 tourists, an increase of 14.406 (+2,36%).
The main reason for visiting remains vacation, recreation, and leisure (95%), but it has fallen by 2,05 percentage points compared to 2024. Furthermore, the use of package tours decreased by 5,68 percentage points, standing at 53,57%, demonstrating that visitors are opting for more independent or shorter stays, with lower aggregate spending. The room occupancy rate rose slightly to 77,69% (+3,24%), while the occupancy rate per bed fell slightly to 74,51% (-0,31%). The average daily rate increased by 7,29%, to €122,01, but the increase did not offset the shorter stays and the impact of the pound on spending in the south of the island.
