The Canary Islands have showcased their winter tourism offer to over two hundred Canadian agents, tour operators, and industry professionals. The events, held in Montreal and Toronto, saw the participation of more than twenty promotional companies and entities from the islands. The Minister of Tourism and Employment for the Government of the Canary Islands, Jéssica de León, led the delegation, meeting with representatives from the tourism and aviation industry to highlight the archipelago's advantages for Canadian travelers.
De León emphasized that the new direct connections facilitate access to a market with distinct preferences. "Market diversification is crucial for a destination like ours, and Canada offers travelers interested in nature, gastronomy, culture, and outdoor experiences," she stated.
This winter, the connection between the archipelago and Canada will be strengthened with four routes and six weekly frequencies. Air Canada will operate flights between Toronto and Tenerife Sur (two weekly, extendable to two in February and March), and between Montreal and Tenerife Sur (one, extendable to two). Air Transat will link Toronto and Montreal with Gran Canaria (one weekly flight from each city).
The Montreal-Tenerife route by Air Canada will be extended through summer 2027 with three weekly frequencies, ensuring year-round operation. These direct connections facilitate access to the entire archipelago and allow for combining different islands within a single stay.
Connectivity is supported by single-aisle, long-range aircraft, such as the Airbus A321LR used by Air Transat and Air Canada. These models consume 20% to 30% less fuel and reduce CO2 emissions, avoiding intermediate layovers.
Canadian tourists typically stay an average of 15 days in the Canary Islands, exceeding the 9.2 days of other markets, which implies greater consumption of tourism services.
The Canadian market shows a growing demand for international travel and an interest in European destinations that combine climate, culture, nature, and air connectivity. In 2025, Canadians made 37 million international trips, with 14 million to countries outside the United States.
The Canarian offer, encompassing climate, nature, gastronomy, culture, and volcanic landscapes, aligns with the preferences of Canadian travelers. 59% choose the destination for its landscapes (compared to 37% overall) and 39% for its environmental setting (vs. 35%). Gastronomy (39% vs. 27%) and cultural offerings (18% vs. 10%) also receive above-average ratings.
Canadian travelers also possess high purchasing power: 45% report net incomes exceeding 75,000 euros (compared to 29% overall). Furthermore, 59% book only accommodation, suggesting greater direct booking of other services during their stay.
The professional events, co-financed at 85% by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), brought together over 200 Canadian professionals with hotels, hotel groups, and promotional entities from the islands. Business meetings were complemented by gastronomic experiences to showcase local products and traditions.
In Montreal, the delegation met with Tourisme Montréal and route planning managers from Air Canada and Air Transat to discuss the marketing of new operations. In Toronto, institutional and professional meetings were held with key players in the Canadian tourism industry.
