The Canary Islands have started 2025 by surpassing the record-breaking tourism figures of 2024. According to data released by the National Institute of Statistics (INE), hotel overnight stays in the region increased by 2.2% in January compared to the same month last year, marking 17 consecutive months of growth.
A total of 6,264,611 overnight stays were recorded in hotels across the Canary Islands in January, reinforcing the region’s strong position as a leading tourist destination.
The number of visitors also saw an increase, with 905,844 tourists staying in hotels, a 3.05% rise from January 2024. Of these, 130,640 were domestic tourists from other parts of Spain (14.42%), while the vast majority, 775,205 (85.58%), were international visitors. While domestic tourism saw a slight decline of 1.1%, foreign arrivals grew by 3.8%.
Foreign Visitors Drive Increasing Numbers
Foreign tourists dominated the overnight stay statistics, accounting for 5,763,346 stays (92%), while Spanish residents contributed 501,264 stays (8%). This trend highlights the strong appeal of the Canary Islands to international travellers, who continue to drive the region’s tourism economy.
The average daily hotel rate reached €147.21, reflecting a 7.3% year-on-year increase, while overall accommodation prices in the region rose by 6.64% compared to the previous year.
The surge in visitor numbers also led to a positive impact on employment in the hospitality sector. The industry employed 59,942 people, representing a 6.4% increase compared to January 2024.
Canary Islands Lead National Occupancy Rankings
With an impressive hotel occupancy rate of 75.2%, the Canary Islands topped the list of Spain’s most visited regions. Madrid followed with an occupancy rate of 51.04%, while Catalonia recorded 44.53%.
In terms of total overnight stays across Spain, the Canary Islands led the rankings, accounting for 37.05% of all hotel stays in January, followed by Catalonia (14.15%) and Andalusia (13.45%), highlighting the attraction of the archipelago for winter sun.
