The EU tourism sector in 2023 has seen a significant increase compared to the pre-pandemic year of 2019, with tourist accommodation establishments surpassing previous levels. According to Eurostat, the EU’s statistical office, the estimated number of nights spent in 2023 reached 2.92 billion, which is a 1.6 per cent increase compared to 2019.
Of those 2.92 billion nights spent, 46 per cent accounted for international tourists, slightly lower than the 47 per cent in 2019. Despite this, the 2023 figure exceeds the pre-pandemic level for 2019 by 1.6 per cent, although international tourism was still catching up (-0.4 per cent compared with 2019).
During the third quarter of 2023, 1.2 billion nights spent were recorded, representing a 0.7 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2022. This increase was reflected in the positive trend seen in 17 out of 26 EU member states.
Malta, Cyprus, Slovakia, and Latvia recorded the highest growth in nights spent, while 2023 marked an increase compared to the previous year, with 171 million more nights spent recorded. According to Eurostat, the increase was mainly due to more international guests staying longer and an increase in nights spent by domestic guests.
In terms of lodging, most nights spent (63 per cent) were recorded in hotels and similar accommodations, followed by holiday and other short-stay accommodations (24 per cent). Campsites made up 13 percent of the overall total, with one in seven nights spent in 2023.
Overall, Eurostat reported a 25 per cent increase in tourism levels in 2023 compared to a decade ago, with nights spent increasing from 2.33 billion in 2013 to 2.92 billion. This signifies a positive trend in the EU’s tourism sector and provides hope for further recovery from the impact of the pandemic.
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