The Canary Islands could once again break their all-time record for foreign tourist arrivals in 2025, if current growth trends continue. According to the latest figures from Spain’s National Statistics Institute (INE), the archipelago has welcomed 5.7 million international visitors between January and April, a 4.2% increase compared to the same period in 2024, which equates to 240,000 more holidaymakers in real terms.
April alone saw 1.32 million foreign tourists arrive in the islands, an 11.9% year-on-year rise. That month coincided with the Easter holiday period, traditionally a peak travel time. If this pace is sustained, the Canaries are on course to surpass last year’s historic record of 15.2 million foreign visitors, potentially exceeding it by more than half a million.
When domestic travel is factored in, the total number of visitors to the archipelago in 2024 reached 17.7 million, an all-time high for the region.
Tourist Spending Also Reaches New Highs
Beyond the volume of arrivals, tourist spending has increased as well. In April 2025, international visitors spent a total of €1.92 billion in the Canary Islands, a 15.2% increase compared to April 2024. Over the first four months of the year, total expenditure reached €8.79 billion, which accounts for 25.6% of all international tourist spending in Spain, highlighting the islands' key role in the national tourism economy.
This rise is driven by both higher daily expenditure per visitor and longer average stays, the latter partly influenced by the timing of Easter. The Canaries have now recorded over two consecutive years of sustained tourism growth following the COVID-19 crisis.
Canary Islands Lead Spain in Foreign Arrivals So Far in 2025
Between January and April 2025, the Canary Islands led all Spanish regions in foreign tourist arrivals, followed by Catalonia (5.3 million visitors, +5.3%) and Andalusia (3.9 million, +10.1%). In April alone, all three destinations saw notable growth, but the Canaries recorded the second-highest relative increase among major regions
UK, Germany and France Top Source Markets
As in previous years, the United Kingdom remains the leading country of origin for tourists visiting the Canaries, with over 1.6 million British visitors arriving so far this year, an increase of 11.1%. Germany and France follow closely, each with around 1.3 million travellers (up 13.7% and 10.5%, respectively).
Nationally, Spain welcomed 8.6 million foreign tourists in April 2025, up 10.1% year-on-year, and 25.6 million in the first four months, an increase of 7.1% over the same period in 2024.
Rising Tourism Meets Growing Local Resistance
Despite the economic boom, the rapid growth in tourism is fuelling tensions across the Canary Islands, where residents have taken to the streets to demand limits on mass tourism and stricter environmental protections. Protesters argue that the islands are “not a theme park” and accuse authorities of prioritising profit over sustainability and local quality of life.
As the tourism sector continues to set new records, the pressure is mounting for regional leaders to balance economic gains with long-term environmental stewardship and social equity, a challenge that may define the islands’ future beyond 2025.
