Canary Islands report a 14% rise in tourist numbers during the first 6 months of 2023
The Canary Islands have experienced an increase in tourists staying in hotels and apartments and their overnight stays, which have in turn generated an increase in employment and turnover.
This is clear from the data compiled by the Canary Islands Tourism Research area, the public company dependent on the Ministry of Tourism and Employment of the Government of the Canary Islands.
Between January and June, 6.5 million tourists stayed in traditional tourist accommodations in the archipelago, 14% more than in the same period last year, according to the ISTAC Tourist Accommodation Surveys. The notable growth of foreign residents (16.5%) stands out, followed by visitors from mainland Spain (6.7%) and, finally, Canarian residents (1.6%). In addition, not only the volume of tourists staying has increased, but also overnight stays, which have grown by 16.6% compared to the first six months of last year.
“These data confirm the undoubted recovery of tourism and we are going to ensure that this essential industry for the economy of the archipelago generates more wealth and better jobs [...]”, assures the Minister of Tourism and Employment, Jessica de León.
According to the Active Population Survey (EPA), the number of people employed in tourism industry activities increased by 25.6% in the first quarter of the year compared to the same period in 2022, with 267,975 people working in the sector, compared to 5.2 % growth of the Spanish average. Regarding Social Security affiliation, it increased by 4.3% in June in the Canary Islands (35,809 more people) compared to last year, a growth that was greater in activities directly linked to tourism (hotels, travel agencies and tour operators), with an increase of 7.9%.
Tourism spending has also experienced an outstanding improvement, since in the first quarter it reached 5,353 million euros, 50.4% more than in the same period of the pre-pandemic year, although this increase is conditioned by the higher inflation of the last year. The average daily expenditure of visitors also increased, reaching 168.52 euros, 39.2% more than in the first three months of 2019, and the spending per trip reached 1,432 euros (+44, 5%).
“It is evident that tourism is part of the DNA of our archipelago and we are going to focus on it not only as the economic engine of our islands since it contributes 33% to GDP and accounts for 36.5% of total employment, but also as the best way to promote our traditions, our unique landscapes and our rich cultural, natural and gastronomic heritage”, concludes the counselor.
