Tourism promotes the Canary Islands as a winter destination in Canada, highlighting connectivity, climate and identity

The Canary Islands presented their winter tourism offer this week to more than 200 Canadian travel agents, tour operators and industry professionals at events in Montreal and Toronto. More than twenty businesses and tourism promotion organisations from the islands took part.

Jéssica de León, the Canary Islands Government’s Minister for Tourism and Employment, led the delegation, which met representatives of the tourism and aviation industries in both cities to showcase what the archipelago can offer Canadian travellers.

“New direct connections bring the Canary Islands closer to a market with distinct characteristics and preferences. Diversifying markets is particularly important for a destination like ours, and Canadian travellers are also interested in nature, gastronomy, culture and outdoor experiences,” De León said.

This winter, the archipelago and Canada will be linked by four routes, with six weekly flights. Air Canada will operate two weekly flights between Toronto and Tenerife South, and one between Montreal and Tenerife South, increasing to two weekly flights in February and March. Air Transat will connect Toronto and Montreal with Gran Canaria, with one weekly flight from each city.

Air Canada will also extend its Montreal–Tenerife route into the summer of 2027, with three weekly flights, making it a year-round service.

Direct flights to Tenerife and Gran Canaria provide access from Canada to the whole archipelago and allow visitors to combine different islands during a single stay.

Connectivity between the Canary Islands and Canada is also supported by long-range, single-aisle aircraft, which allow airlines to operate transatlantic routes with capacity suited to the characteristics of this market. Air Transat and Air Canada will both use the Airbus A321LR on their routes to the islands.

This aircraft model uses between 20% and 30% less fuel than earlier-generation aircraft of comparable size and capacity, allowing it to reduce CO₂ emissions by a similar proportion. The direct services also avoid intermediate stopovers.

Canadian tourists stay in the Canary Islands for an average of 15 days, compared with 9.2 days across all markets. This means longer stays at the destination and more time using tourist services during the trip.

Travellers interested in nature, gastronomy and culture

Figures for the Canadian market show growing demand for international travel and interest in European destinations that combine climate, culture, nature and air connections. In 2025, Canadian residents took 37 million international trips, including 14 million to countries other than the United States, a 10% increase.

The islands’ offer brings together climate, nature and outdoor activities with a distinct identity reflected in their gastronomy, culture, heritage and volcanic landscapes. Visitors can also combine different islands during a single stay.

These features match the preferences reported by Canadians who already visit the Canary Islands. Landscapes are a particular draw for 59% when choosing the destination, compared with 37% across all markets. Meanwhile, 39% highlight the natural environment, against 35% overall.

Canadian visitors also rate the islands’ gastronomy above the average, at 39% compared with 27% across all markets, and their cultural offer, at 18% compared with 10%.

Visitors from Canada also have high purchasing power: 45% report net incomes of more than €75,000, compared with 29% across all markets. In addition, 59% book accommodation only, against 36% overall, meaning they make greater direct use of restaurants, shops and other services during their stay.

The professional events, co-financed at 85% by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), brought together more than 200 Canadian agents and industry professionals, who met directly with hotels, hotel groups and tourism promotion organisations from the archipelago.

Business meetings were paired with culinary experiences showcasing the islands’ produce, wines, dishes and traditions, bringing Canarian gastronomy and identity into the presentation of the tourism offer.

In Montreal, the Canary Islands delegation met representatives of Tourisme Montréal and route-planning officials from Air Canada and Air Transat. Discussions covered the characteristics of the new services to the Canary Islands and how they would be marketed in Canada.

In Toronto, the delegation held an institutional and professional meeting with representatives of airlines, agency networks, tour operators, specialist media and other players in the Canadian tourism industry.