The behavior of residents of the Canary Islands has solidified Gran Canaria's position as the leading destination for inter-island tourism. According to official data from the Canary Islands Statistics Institute (ISTAC) for the period between January and November 2025, the island attracted a total of 489.193 Canary Island residents staying in regulated tourist accommodations. This figure is not only the highest of all the islands, but also represents a solid 5,6% increase compared to the same period of the previous year, when 463.182 local travelers were recorded.
The preferred destination for Gran Canaria residents: One of the pillars of this success lies in the phenomenon of "self-consumption" tourism. According to ISTAC, 59,8% of Canary Island tourists who chose Gran Canaria for their holidays during 2025 were residents of the island itself. In absolute terms, this means that almost 292.500 Gran Canaria residents opted for tourism "at home," mainly in the hotel and non-hotel areas of the south, strengthening the local economy against fluctuations in the international market.
Looking exclusively at November 2025, the upward trend continued with 17.501 residents staying on the island, a 3,4% increase compared to the previous year. During this month, the island demonstrated its ability to attract visitors from neighboring provinces: 5.228 travelers arrived from Lanzarote, representing a spectacular 134,9% increase; 1.239 people traveled from Fuerteventura, increasing the flow by 63,9%; and despite a 10,0% decrease, Tenerife continued to contribute a significant number of residents with 2.380.
The dynamism of domestic tourism in Gran Canaria is also reflected in its tourism migration balance. During November, the island acted as a net recipient of travelers, with a positive balance of 1.671 people. This is because, while 8.276 Gran Canarians traveled to other islands (9,1% fewer than last year), Gran Canaria received 9.947 tourists from the rest of the archipelago, representing a 55,0% increase in visitors. These figures from ISTAC confirm that the island not only retains its local population but is also the most competitive destination for attracting Canary Islanders' savings during their winter getaways.
