Brits will still be welcome in Lanzarote, despite reports the Canary Island wants to ditch UK visitors in favour of ‘higher quality’ German tourists.

Dolores Corujo, President of Lanzarote’s local government, told the ITB Berlin trade fair: “It’s essential to work on the diversification of the sector and the growth of markets like the German market, which adapt to our intentions of aiming at higher-quality tourism and holidaymakers who spend more when they’re here and moves us away from mass tourism,” the Daily Mail reported.

But Spanish Tourist Office UK Director Manuel Butler distanced himself from the leader’s comments.

“Spain is a socially inclusive destination and we do not discriminate,” he said.

“We warmly welcome our British guests.”

Despite Ms Corujo’s statement that Germans spend more than Brits, figures shared with Travel Gossip actually show Brits spend more per day.

Average spend per day by UK holidaymakers to Spain is €154, compared to €145 among German visitors.

By comparison, French holidaymakers spend an average of €116 per day.

However, the STO says Germany visitors tend to stay slightly longer than visitors from the UK.