Canary Islands Tourists Surge as International Arrivals Rise
Tourist numbers in Spain reached 36.82 million by May 2026, with the Canary Islands attracting over 6.7 million visitors this year. The figures, released by the National Statistics Institute (INE), indicate a booming tourism sector with spending of €50.26 billion from January to May, marking a 7.8% increase compared to the same period in 2025, and a record for that timeframe. Tourists in the Canary Islands alone contributed €10.29 billion to the economy.
In May, the Canary Islands welcomed 1,070,492 international tourists, a slight rise of 0.53% from May 2025, with total expenditure reaching €1.56 billion, up 2.44%. The Ministry of Industry and Tourism noted that spending continues to grow faster than the rate of arrivals.
Key Source Countries
The UK remained the largest source of tourists in the first five months, sending over 7 million visitors, a rise of 3.6%. France and Germany followed, contributing 4.6 million and 4.5 million respectively. Notably, UK visitors accounted for 16% of total spending, with Germany at 11.9% and France at 7.7%.
May Highlights
In total, Spain received 10.3 million tourists in May, reflecting a 9.5% increase from the previous year. They spent €13.55 billion, up 10.9%, with an average spend of €1,321 per tourist. Nearly 2.2 million arrivals were from the UK, marking a 6.1% increase. France and Germany also showed growth, each contributing around 1.3 million tourists.
Catalonia emerged as the top destination with 21.1% of visitors in May, followed by the Balearic Islands at 20.6% and Andalucía at 15.9%.
Accommodation Trends
Market accommodation usage rose by 7.4% year-on-year in May, with hotels increasing by 5% and rental homes by 26%. The majority of stays lasted between four and seven nights, with over 5.4 million tourists spending longer in Spain. The preference for travel packages is also noticeable, as over 2.7 million visitors opted for them, a rise of 13.9%.
Overall, spending on international transport was highest at 20.8% of total expenditures in May, reflecting a 9.6% increase from May 2025. Leisure travel accounted for 82.9% of total spending, growing by 9.4% year-on-year.
The latest figures confirm that Spain’s tourism industry continues to thrive, especially in the Canary Islands, which remain a preferred destination for many international visitors.
