The third quarter of 2025 (Q3 2025) has painted an encouraging picture for businesses in southern Gran Canaria, confirming that sun and beach tourism is evolving towards a model of greater consumption and activity beyond the confines of accommodation. Data from the Gran Canaria Island Council's Department of Tourism highlights a significant increase in the proportion of visitors who spend most of their day exploring the destination, enjoying local restaurants, and shopping.
The data from the third quarter confirms that the south of Gran Canaria not only attracts tourists, but also keeps them in the streets, generating a positive and lasting economic impact for the restaurant sector and local commerce.
The most notable trend is the growth of the "intensive explorer" tourist: those who spend "more than 12 hours" away from their accommodation during their stay. This segment, which already represents 9,9% of the total market, experienced the greatest year-on-year growth, with a 21,5% increase compared to Q3 2024. This figure is not only an indicator of visitor satisfaction but also a barometer of the dynamism of the area's complementary offerings.
Analyzing behavior by market, UK tourists stand out as the most active and the largest contributors to this out-of-hotel spending. A full 10% of British respondents reported spending more than 12 hours a day outside their hotel, making them the market most prone to this intensive behavior. Spanish tourists also show a high propensity to go out (9% in the more than 12-hour category).
At the other end of the spectrum, German tourists are the most focused on accommodation or nearby activities, with only 5% opting for days exceeding 12 hours outside their resort. However, the largest segment remains those who spend between 4 and 8 hours away (43,8% of all markets), demonstrating a healthy balance between relaxation at the hotel and active enjoyment of the destination. This increase in time spent on activities outside the hotel is validated by a very positive overall satisfaction index. The average overall tourist satisfaction score was 8,68 in Q3 2025, representing a slight overall increase.
The British market, which leads in terms of time spent away from home, gives the highest rating to the experience, achieving a remarkable average satisfaction score of 8,90 (an increase of 0,21 points compared to the previous year). This result suggests that the quality of external tourist services—restaurants, excursions, shops, and beaches—not only meets expectations but in many cases exceeds them, encouraging tourists to extend their spending time beyond their check-in.
