The Canary Islands recorded a sharp fall in international arrivals in April, with more than 100,000 fewer foreign tourists than in the same month a year earlier. The Spanish archipelago received 1.2 million visitors, down 7.6%, according to local reports.
Fuerteventura was among the worst affected islands, with 260,404 direct air passengers at El Matorral airport, a drop of about 7.8%. German arrivals on the island fell to 61,803, down 11.8% year on year, while Britain remained the biggest single market.
The figures come during the second month since the start of the Iran conflict, which local reports say has weighed on travel demand. Tourism officials on Fuerteventura have said they plan to step up promotion and seek more flight connections.
The wider decline marked a loss of 101,058 foreign tourists across the islands in April, compared with 1.3 million in the same month in 2025. Local media reported that the downturn hit some markets much harder than others, with Germany standing out as a key source of weaker demand.
Britons remained the largest visitor group on Fuerteventura, with 67,118 travellers in April, despite a 6.2% fall. French arrivals showed the steepest decline among the main markets, dropping 23.2% to 6,614 passengers.
Polish and Irish visitor numbers also fell, by 17.8% and 2.2% respectively. By contrast, some smaller markets grew, including Finland, Sweden and the Czech Republic.
Local outlet Teneriffa News said German travellers had shown a particularly marked drop in interest in Fuerteventura. It said the island’s tourism authorities now wanted to strengthen marketing and improve air links.
The Canary Islands remain one of Europe’s most popular holiday destinations for German visitors, but the latest figures suggest demand has softened at least for now. The islands, which include Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro, depend heavily on international tourism.
Fuerteventura, known for its beaches and wind-swept landscape, has long drawn visitors from Britain and Germany. The latest monthly figures suggest that those two markets, while still important, are now under pressure.
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