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TravelSpain

Spain's Canary Islands fear tourism slump over oil prices

Markus Böhnisch on Tenerife, Canary Islands
May 3, 2026

Air travel is an economic lifeline for Spain's remote Canary Islands, one that is now threatened by soaring jet fuel prices caused by Iran war and the blockade of oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.

https://p.dw.com/p/5DAjM

Tourism is the backbone of the Canary Islands, bringing in €23 billion ($26 billion) last year. But despite full hotels, there are growing fears that this could soon change.

Airlines have warned of possible kerosene shortages linked to the Iran war, while rising prices, housing protests and traffic jams are straining local life in Tenerife. If tourists stay away, businesses and jobs across Spain's islands could grind to a halt.

DW author Markus Böhnisch
Markus Böhnisch Reporter focusing on the Iberian Peninsula and topics related to sustainability