The Gran Canaria Tourist Board is rolling out the red carpet for the giants of the French tourism sector in a five-day strategic operation. With Maspalomas as its headquarters and the French market experiencing double-digit growth, the island aims to transform the sun and beach tourist into an advocate for "premium experiences" before 2026 marks the historic milestone of 5 million visitors.
It's no coincidence that names like Voyageurs du Monde, Les Maisons du Voyage, and Allibert were seen along the coast of San Bartolomé de Tirajana in mid-December. In a strategic move coordinated with the Hopscotch Tourism agency, southern Gran Canaria has decided that 2026 won't just be the year of the British and Germans. The target is the French tourist: the one who spends 33% more than before the pandemic and who is no longer satisfied with just a sunbed.
The agents stayed overnight at the Seaside Palm Beach and conducted technical inspections at the Grand Hotel Residencia (the only Leading Hotels of the World in the area). The message sent to Paris is clear: southern Gran Canaria has the luxury infrastructure necessary to satisfy the discerning French clientele seeking exclusivity and design. The itinerary for the French tour operators was a declaration of intent. From the Maspalomas Dunes to Puerto de Mogán (which already attracts 41% of the island's visitors), the expedition aimed to sell the "territory" and not just "accommodation." The goal is to attract nature and culture tourists, a segment where operators like Allibert are leaders.
While French agents strolled through the Port of Mogán, the town council approved the 2026 budget with a record 60 million euros and a new aesthetic ordinance to preserve the area. Mogán knows that its architecture is its greatest asset in the French market, which values authenticity over concrete.
Gran Canaria Tourism is undergoing a paradigm shift. The focus is no longer on filling hotel rooms—occupancy is already at record levels—but on optimizing operational efficiency. With tourism revenue rising 17,7% in the last quarter, the strategy with France aims to attract travelers who will sample local cuisine (Salinas de Tenefé) and engage in active tourism (Guayadeque), increasing the added value per night of their stay.
The absence of an official Spanish stand at the last IFTM trade fair in Paris left Gran Canaria in a vulnerable position, which the Island Council has decided to compensate for with these "familiarization trips." In a landscape where air connectivity with France (Volotea, Vueling, Binter) is stronger than ever, the south of the island is acting as an autonomous entity to secure its market share in the face of national stagnation. San Bartolomé de Tirajana is projected to reach nearly 5 million tourists by 2025. For that figure to be sustainable in 2026, the "diversification" championed by the Island Council necessarily involves the French market. They are not coming to replace anyone; they are coming to raise the average spend in a south that is beginning to understand that luxury is not just a five-star hotel, but the ability to offer an experience that an algorithm cannot replicate. The French assault on the luxury stronghold in Maspalomas
