Gran Canaria received 4,510,000 tourists in 2018, surpassing the historic record of 4.5 million foreign and national visitors for the second consecutive year, although there was a recorded decline of 1.7%, 77,750 travellers less than in 2017, according to the latest report prepared by the Canary Islands Statistics Institute (ISTAC).
Despite the reopening of various competing markets such as Tunisia, Egypt and Turkey, Gran Canaria is the island that registered the lowest decline out all the Canary Islands, which closed the year with an average decrease of 2.6 % overall, according to the Cabildo de Gran Canaria’s tourism minister, Inés Jiménez, who highlighted growth of 4.4% (24,500 tourists more) from the Spanish national market, which closed 2018 at 573,900 travellers from the mainland.
The Nordic market, combining visitor numbers from Norway, Sweden, Finland & Denmark, returned to lead overall in 2018 with 993,600 having travelled to Gran Canaria, a small decrease of 3.6% representing 32,200 fewer travellers compared to the previous year. The German market maintains its strength on Gran Canaria at 978,700 tourists seeing a similar decline of 3.2% (-33,200), while the 857,600 travellers arriving from the United Kingdom, represent a decrease of 3.6% with 32,200 tourists less than in 2017.
As for emerging markets, Gran Canaria has increased its prominence in Belgium, which recorded an increase of 1.9% and 2,200 more visitors, reaching 114,800 people; Italy climbed to 106,600 tourists with 3.8% and 4,240 more visitors, and Ireland sent 82,630 travellers, a clear rise of 4% represented by 3,180 more people.
