The Paris International Tourism Fair (IFTM 2025) has left Canary Islands professionals with a clear conclusion: the south of Gran Canaria is consolidating its position in the French market, while the absence of an official Spanish stand has raised eyebrows in the sector. Olga Pons, director of European tour operator management at Lopesan Hotel Group, highlighted the importance of the event and the active role of the Gran Canaria Tourist Board stand, which featured a broad representation of hoteliers from the island and a promotional agenda specifically geared toward French clients. "Agents are getting to know the destination and our chains better and better. What a difference compared to my early years at IFTM, when Gran Canaria was largely unknown," Pons noted.
In 2024, Gran Canaria welcomed approximately 12.730 French tourists in June, representing a 25,8% increase compared to the same month the previous year. This growth is part of a positive trend in the French market toward the Canary Islands, which as a whole recorded a 10,3% increase in French tourist arrivals during 2024. Gran Canaria is thus positioning itself as an increasingly attractive destination for French travelers, especially in the family segment, consolidating its presence in this key market.
French tour operators' interest remains strong for 2026, both in establishments in the Canary Islands and in projects in the Dominican Republic, where Lopesan is banking on sustained growth. However, the absence of an official Spanish exhibition at the Parisian trade fair has generated confusion among professionals. "I don't understand why, with tourism being one of the country's economic drivers and France being the second largest source of tourists, it isn't considered important to have a national promotion area," Pons emphasized. The situation sparks a debate about Spain's international tourism promotion strategy, while destinations like Gran Canaria are taking advantage of the opportunity to differentiate themselves and strengthen their image in France, a key market that continues to grow in volume and average spending per visitor.
