A recent study by the Canary Islands Institute of Statistics (ISTAC) reveals that two-thirds (66%) of German tourists who visited the Canary Islands in 2024 would be willing to pay a tourist tax on accommodation, compared to 49% of visitors from the United Kingdom.
The primary motivation for German travellers to support the tourist tax is to improve and protect the environment. Other reasons include contributing to any governmental purpose and enhancing living conditions for residents of the Canary Islands.
The study indicates that the majority of German tourists (90.4%) would accept a tax ranging from 1 to 3 euros per day. However, 20.2% of Germans would avoid a destination if a tourist tax were in place.
British tourists also showed a significant level of acceptance, with 49.4% open to paying a tourist tax during their stay in the archipelago. Notably, 86% of British visitors would be comfortable paying between 1 and 3 euros per day. However, a quarter (25.8%) of British respondents said they might avoid destinations with such a tax.
These findings are part of ISTAC’s Micromarket Study for Germany and the United Kingdom, included in the Tourist Expenditure Survey. The report provides insights into spending habits at the destination and details about the profiles and characteristics of the travellers.
