The number of holiday let properties advertised on digital booking platforms across the Canary Islands has fallen by 20% over the past year, according to new figures released by the Canary Islands Institute of Statistics (ISTAC).

Data from the institute's Experimental Holiday Rental Statistics show that there were 38,337 holiday rental properties available in May 2026, compared with 47,648 during the same period in 2025.

The decline also extends to visitor capacity. Available tourist accommodation places have dropped by 21%, falling from almost 200,000 beds last year to 156,967 this May.

Decline Follows Regulatory Changes

While ISTAC has not commented on the reasons behind the decrease, the figures come after the Canary Islands introduced new regulations governing holiday rental accommodation over recent months.

The new rules have been among the most closely watched developments in the tourism and housing sectors, with authorities seeking to balance the economic benefits of holiday rentals against growing concerns over housing availability for residents.

Tenerife Still Leads the Market

Despite the overall drop, Tenerife remains the island with the largest share of holiday rental properties in the archipelago.

According to the latest figures:

• Tenerife accounts for 41% of all holiday rentals.
• Gran Canaria represents 22%.
• Lanzarote holds 16%.
• Fuerteventura accounts for 14%.

The remaining properties are spread across the smaller islands.

Occupancy Remains Strong

Although the number of available holiday rentals has fallen, demand remains high.

During May, 30,066 properties received at least one booking, representing 78.43% of all holiday rentals listed on the digital platforms analysed by ISTAC.

The highest booking rates were recorded on:

• El Hierro – 86.21%
• Lanzarote – 82.22%
• La Palma – 80.53%

These figures suggest that while fewer properties are being offered on the market, occupancy levels remain strong across much of the archipelago.

Monitoring a Changing Sector

ISTAC said the purpose of the experimental statistics programme is to provide monthly data on the capacity, occupancy and profitability of holiday rental accommodation advertised through major online booking platforms.

The data only covers holiday rental properties actively offering accommodation through the digital platforms included in the study and does not account for every tourist property operating across the islands.

The latest figures are likely to fuel ongoing debate about the future of holiday rentals in the Canary Islands, particularly as the region continues to grapple with housing shortages while maintaining its position as one of Europe's most popular tourist destinations.