Lanzarote, Gran Canaria, and La Palma, along with various diving schools from the archipelago, are participating with the support of Turismo de Canarias in the Salon de la Plongée, one of the major global diving events.
The islands present their extensive diving offer, with almost 400 experiences, second only to Bali and ahead of the Balearic Islands, Greece, or Cancun, in addition to ranking second in terms of valuation thanks to their volcanic seabeds, marine biodiversity, and the possibility of diving year-round.
According to data from the study ‘Experiences in the Canary Islands: Analysis of online positioning and competitiveness’ by the public company Turismo de Islas Canarias, diving constitutes the main aquatic activity of the islands, with 39% of the offering, ahead of surfing and boat rentals.
A framework that showcases the archipelago's exceptional conditions for year-round diving with visibility of up to 30 meters, stable temperatures around 20 degrees, high-value marine biodiversity, and a unique volcanic seabed, characterized by caves, reefs, and great depths. This richness has allowed areas of El Hierro, La Palma, and Lanzarote to be designated as Marine Reserves, an attribute especially valued by experienced divers.
Furthermore, the presence of Turismo de Canarias at this event responds to the strategy aimed at attracting travelers with high economic impact who spend their money on experiences linked to the natural environment and the authenticity of the destination.
The diving tourist has an average daily expenditure, excluding flights, of 130 euros, five euros above the average, a figure that reflects their spending capacity on activities, food and beverage, and local services, contributing to a greater economic impact and better distribution of spending in the region.
In fact, 44% of diving tourists try Canarian cuisine, compared to 27% of the total, 26% attend concerts and shows, compared to 15% on average, and 23% visit wineries, markets, and popular festivals (11% of the total) and 22% visit museums, exhibitions, and cultural centers (11% on average)
Likewise, they are more independent travelers, as 60% contract their services directly with island companies, thus favoring the local economy, compared to 50% from other markets.
It is also a younger profile, as 20% are between 16 and 24 years old, a percentage that doubles the total for all markets, and 19% are between 25 and 30 years old, eight points above the average. These tourists show a clear preference for exploring the destination, as 11.5% visit two or more islands, compared to 7% of the total. Likewise, 15% spend more than 12 hours outside their accommodation, compared to 9% of the total, and 71% travel around the island on their own (22 points above the average) and engage in activities in direct contact with nature.
The Salon de la Plongée, celebrating its 27th edition, is the first major event on the Parisian trade show calendar and one of the most relevant internationally within the sector, as travel agencies, associations, insurance companies, boats, cruises, diving schools, advertisers, manufacturers, retailers, media, and tourism offices attend each year.
Last year, this event brought together more than 66,500 visitors, of whom 39% were under 40 years old and 14% came from abroad, in addition to the presence of 405 exhibitors and 174 stands. The participation of the Canary Islands destination is co-financed by 85% by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
