BRITISH TOURISTS CONTINUE TO FLOCK TO THE CANARY ISLANDS – AND LANZAROTE REMAINS A FAVOURITE
British holidaymakers are showing no signs of falling out of love with the Canary Islands, with new tourism figures highlighting just how important the UK market remains to the region.
More than 576,000 visitors from the United Kingdom travelled to the Canary Islands during July 2026 alone, according to the latest figures from the Canary Islands Statistics Institute (ISTAC).
The total of 576,338 British visitors represented around 37% of all tourists arriving in the Canary Islands during the month – meaning that more than one in every three visitors came from the UK.
For an archipelago that attracts millions of holidaymakers from across Europe and beyond, the continued strength of the British market is particularly significant.
LANZAROTE CONTINUES TO ATTRACT VISITORS
Lanzarote is very much part of that success story.
The island welcomed 316,836 tourists in July 2026, an increase of 6.4% compared with July 2025. International tourism to Lanzarote also increased during the month, while visitors from mainland Spain recorded particularly strong growth.
Across the Canary Islands as a whole, Lanzarote accounted for approximately 20% of tourist arrivals in July, putting the island firmly among the region's most popular destinations.
For local businesses, restaurants, accommodation providers, attractions and tourism operators, the figures underline the continued importance of international visitors to the island's economy.
WHY DO BRITISH VISITORS KEEP CHOOSING THE CANARY ISLANDS?
The appeal of the Canary Islands to British holidaymakers isn't difficult to understand.
Reliable weather, beaches, outdoor activities, a wide choice of accommodation and easy access from the UK have helped make destinations such as Lanzarote, Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura firm favourites for decades.
Lanzarote has some particularly strong attractions for British visitors, from the volcanic landscapes of Timanfaya and the beaches of Playa Blanca to the resort areas of Puerto del Carmen and Costa Teguise.
Recent research from Turismo Lanzarote also shows that climate remains the island's biggest attraction, with 74.6% of visitors surveyed during the first quarter of 2026 identifying the weather as a reason for choosing Lanzarote. Safety and tranquillity were also among the leading factors.
That combination helps explain why Lanzarote remains attractive not only for traditional summer holidays, but also for people looking for sunshine during the autumn and winter months.
TOURISM REMAINS VITAL TO LANZAROTE
The latest figures also demonstrate how important tourism continues to be to Lanzarote.
Between January and July 2026, the island welcomed more than 2 million tourists, with 2,034,207 visitors recorded during the first seven months of the year. That was 0.7% higher than during the same period in 2025.
Interestingly, the story isn't simply about attracting more and more visitors.
For residents, that tourism activity has a direct impact on the local economy, supporting employment and businesses across hospitality, retail, transport, excursions, entertainment and other services.
THE BRITISH CONNECTION REMAINS PARTICULARLY STRONG
The relationship between Lanzarote and the UK is nothing new.
British visitors have long been one of the island's most important tourism markets, and there continues to be substantial direct air connectivity between the UK and Lanzarote.
For summer 2026, scheduled services included flights from numerous British airports, including London, Manchester, Bristol, Liverpool, Belfast and Edinburgh.
The latest Canary Islands figures suggest that this long-standing relationship remains as strong as ever.
With 576,338 UK visitors recorded across the Canary Islands in July alone, Britain remains comfortably ahead of the other major international markets.
A POSITIVE PICTURE FOR LANZAROTE
The figures provide encouraging news for both visitors and residents.
For tourists, they demonstrate that Lanzarote remains one of the Canary Islands' leading holiday destinations, offering the combination of sunshine, beaches, scenery, activities and accommodation that continues to attract visitors from across Europe.
For residents and businesses, continued demand from international markets – particularly the UK – provides an important foundation for the local economy.
And with the island continuing to attract more than two million visitors in the first seven months of the year, there is little indication that Lanzarote's popularity is disappearing anytime soon.
For British holidaymakers, it seems the Canary Islands – and Lanzarote in particular – remain very much a favourite.
