President Fernando Clavijo emphasized this Wednesday the progress of the Canary Islands towards a more sustainable tourism model that deepens "the quality of the destination" and ensures that "the wealth generated by the sector benefits all Canary Islanders." During his visit to the archipelago's pavilion at the 46th edition of the Madrid International Tourism Fair (Fitur), Clavijo highlighted that the archipelago **closed 2025 with a tourism revenue of 23 billion euros**, 680 million more than the previous year and 8.9 billion more than in the pre-pandemic period, demonstrating an increase in spending per visitorIn their opinion, this 41% increase in turnover over six years validates the Canary Islands Government's commitment to moving beyond simply counting tourists and instead focusing on increasing the quality and spending of visitors in the destination. "This Government is not content with 2025 being a record year," they stated, emphasizing that the "great work" of the Minister of Tourism, Jéssica de León, and the entire Executive is focused on ensuring that the benefits of receiving 18 million tourists "reach everyone."
Fernando Clavijo specifically referred to the milestones reached in 2025 to move towards a more sustainable tourism model. Firstly, he pointed out the signing of new collective agreements in the two Canary Islands provinces with a 10% salary increase for the 280,000 employees in the sector. He also considered the approval of the Holiday Tourism Law an advance due to the positive effect it will have on the regulation of the sector and on improving access to housing in the archipelago.
The head of government also highlighted at the start of the Madrid fair the commitment of the Canary Islands to guarantee the protection of the environment by reducing tourist pressure on the islands' natural landscapes and opting for a more respectful visitor willing to consume Canarian products. Through dialogue and institutional collaboration, measures have been implemented in 2025 to control access to spaces and charge fees in key locations such as Teide, Roque Nublo, Masca, or Tinajo
The Vice President of the Canary Islands Government, Manuel Domínguez, also stressed from Fitur the importance of the Canary Islands continuing to lead the tourism sector, especially with a commitment to economic, social, and environmental sustainability whose results "are beginning to be seen." "With more revenue, with improved purchasing power for sector workers, and with public-private collaboration to conserve our environment," he stated, echoing the president's remarks on the professionalism of the Tourism Department team and the high standard of the islands' pavilion.
Clavijo and Domínguez's remarks took place after a minute of silence in a show of condolence for the victims of the recent train accidents. Furthermore, the Canary Islands Government suspended the official inauguration ceremony in compliance with the mourning decreed by the State throughout the country.
For its part, the **Canary Islands Tourism Minister** reaffirmed that "the **Canarians are at the center of all the decisions** we have made as a regional government. 'The results of the Government's actions with the tourism industry are beginning to be seen as a solution to the problems of Canarians and not as a problem for Canarians'," she said. She added that her department's strategy focuses on "consolidating a tourism model based on quality, added value, and sustainability, with the aim not of attracting more tourists, but of ensuring that those who already visit us spend more in the destination."Looking ahead to **2026**, Jéssica De León stated that "the archipelago's main challenge will be to navigate an international context marked by **geopolitical and economic uncertainty**, which will have a potential impact on consumer confidence and air connectivity." Within this framework, the counselor highlighted that "**Canary Islands starts from a solid position** as a safe haven destination thanks to its climatic stability, its security, its connectivity, and the high loyalty of tourists."
In 2025, the islands received approximately 18.4 million tourists, generating an estimated revenue exceeding 23 billion euros, a 3% increase from the previous year, reaffirming the record levels reached after the pandemic. Compared to the pre-COVID era, tourism revenue grew by 63%, although considering that the accumulated inflation since December 2019 has been 22%, the growth in real terms was 41%.
Furthermore, in 2025, profitability indicators stood out, as occupancy in traditional accommodation establishments remained at historic highs and the ADR (average daily rate) and Revpar (revenue per available room) grew by 5.5% and 6% respectively, both above the inflation rate (3%)
Tourism employment has also benefited from the sector's good performance. According to data from the latest Active Population Survey (EPA, third quarter), employment associated with the tourism sector reached 280,534 people, a 4% increase compared to 2024. As for social security affiliation in hospitality and travel agencies, it stood at 180,767 people in November (+2% year-on-year). The positive trend in tourism employment has decisively contributed to placing the unemployment rate in the Canary Islands at historic lows.
Canarian coffee, cheeses, and wines
Canary Islands attends Fitur 2026 along with more than 1,300 accredited tourism sector agents and 380 Canary Islands companies, of which 48 have an individualized meeting spaceLast year, the public company Turismo de Islas Canarias, under the Ministry of Tourism and Employment, unveiled a new stand at Fitur, where it also received the award for best space in the Institutions and Autonomous Communities category
This stand, co-financed with ERDF funds, is characterized by the avant-garde nature of its striking design and its sustainability. It covers 1,768 m2 and includes space for the media, companies in the sector, and an auditorium with a capacity for 120 people where various presentations are held by the island councils and public companies of the Department, as well as other institutions and entities such as companies or music festivals that have received sponsorship from Turismo de Islas Canarias.
In addition, the spectacular stand roof, the latest technology aerial elements, and the graphic supports, totaling more than 600 m2, stand out. As every year, the stand hosts the traditional stand with typical Canarian fruit juices and a tasting area for local products and wine tastings organized by the public company GMR, attached to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food Sovereignty. Furthermore, this year, as a new feature, a tasting area for Canarian coffee has been added by Hecansa, dependent on the Ministry of Tourism and Employment.
Smaller carbon footprint
The stand once again stands out for its sustainability, as the two canopies are made of natural poplar wood from sustainable sources, the manufacturing of which was offset by planting new trees. As for the furniture, it is made from recycled plastic derived from fishing nets and plastic bottles collected from the sea, among other materials
Added to this is the fact that, for another year, the total carbon footprint derived from the Canary Islands' participation in Fitur has decreased, going from 70.5 tons of CO2e in the previous edition to 64.5 tons of CO2e this year, a reduction of 8.5%. The carbon footprint per attendee also decreased, from 201.5 kilograms of CO2e per person to 191.5 kg CO2e, which represents a 5% reduction.
