Concern in Spain's tourism sector as Brits turn their back on holiday islands

As Brits reject holiday islands, there is concern for the tourism industry in Spain

Louise Brown May 20, 2025 Travel Leave a comment

New figures reveal that BRITS are avoiding Spain’s major tourist islands.

Tenerife’s tourism industry is alarming after bookings by British tourists dropped 8% in 2025’s first trimester.

Santiago Sese President of Tenerife’s 2025 Economic Bulletin announced the worrying trend.

READ MORE: British visitors to Spain represented one fifth of all tourists in April, as the tourism boom continues

Autistic 'Irish' boy, 11, 'is sexually assaulted in front of his family' at hotel in Spain's Tenerife — Winter Sun: Tenerife has long been a favourite of Brits who want to escape the harsh UK winters.
Cordon Press Photo

Experts believe that Brits will instead choose other holiday destinations such as Turkey Greece and Egypt.

After historic antitourism protests in Spain, Lope fonso announced Tenerife’s collaboration with the protesters. Canarias tiene un limite Canary Islands Limit

They will reportedly work together to find a ‘balance’ between the tourism industry and the wellbeing of locals, including solving key issues like access to affordable housing.

Afonso aims to develop a more sustainable tourism industry for the benefit of the local economy, the environment and the community.

READ MORE: ‘Historic’ anti-tourism marches see hundreds of thousands protest across Spain

He said: “We must maintain Tenerife as a tourist destination.”

“It is essential that we work to make our destination more sustainable and reliable because if the prices drop, then profitability will go down as well as jobs. We would be shooting ourselves in our foot.”

Sese points out that, while international tourists continue to increase (by 3,4%), the average amount they spend on their trips has fallen.

In the first few months in 2025, the number Spanish tourists on Tenerife fell by 10%.

According to Sese, tourism is part of the ‘solution’ to the island’s problems, accounting for 35% of the GDP and 40% of jobs.

“Without jobs there is no business and people without jobs don’t consume.” He said that if no one was consuming there would be no resources available to maintain the public services.

READ MORE: Mallorca sends message to tourists in response to tourismophobia