Spanish tourism officials are optimistic about the Canary Islands’ performance in the Canadian market, with two Canadian carriers planning to bring visitors to the islands. The Canary Islands are known for their mild weather throughout the year, earning them the nickname “islands of eternal spring.”
Air Canada will begin direct service from Toronto to Tenerife on October 25 and from Montreal to Tenerife on October 31, with twice-a-week service on both routes. Air Transat will also start linking Montreal and Toronto with Las Palmas in December, with service continuing into April.
Isabel Martin, director of the Tourism Office of Spain in Canada, expressed gratitude to the airlines for the new direct flights. “We all know how important direct flights are when choosing a destination,” she said. The number of direct connections between Canada and Spain has more than doubled in four years, from 8 in 2022 to 17 this year.
Martin noted that the Romans called the Canary Islands the “Fortunate Islands” 2,000 years ago, and now Toronto and Montreal are the lucky cities with direct flights to the islands. She believes the Canary Islands will become one of Canadians’ favorite destinations due to their year-round sunshine and wide range of activities.
Jessica de Leon, the Canary Islands’ tourism minister, said visitors can enjoy summer temperatures of around 26 degrees and winter temperatures of around 22 degrees, making it possible to swim in the ocean in January. The islands also have 4 national parks, Spain’s highest mountain, and 7 biosphere reserves.
Around 40% of the Canary Islands’ terrain is protected from development, preserving the islands’ natural beauty. The archipelago is also home to 23 golf courses and has strong ties to Latin America, with many residents having emigrated to Latin America in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Leticia Gonzalez of the Canary Islands’ tourist board said the destination is “unquestionably Spanish” with high hotel standards and a sense of security. However, she also noted that the islands are closer to Africa than mainland Spain and have a unique cultural identity shaped by their history and geography.
Gonzalez’s colleague Juan Hiemenz said the destination doesn’t view visitors as tourists, but rather as friends. He praised the Canary Islands for having “some of the clearest skies on earth” and expressed enthusiasm for the destination.