Travel and tourism in Europe - Statistics & Facts
Travel and tourism activities define a major industry in Europe. As a worldwide leader in international tourism, Europe plays a vital role in the economic impact of the global travel industry. For the European economy alone, travel and tourism directly contributed 624.3 billion euros to GDP in 2016 and 2.28 million jobs through direct employment in the sector.
The number of international tourists arriving in Europe has been steadily increasing since the nineties, reaching over 600 million arrivals by 2015. The southern/Mediterranean region of Europe is the most popular destination region in terms of international arrivals, followed by Western Europe. However, forecasts for inbound visitor numbers suggest that growth in central and Eastern European nations will be stronger than other regions between 2016 and 2018.
France and Spain are two of the leading travel destinations in Europe, with France receiving 84.4 million arrivals in 2015. Both countries also lead in the 2017 Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index, meaning their policies on tourism and sustainable development enable them to effectively compete in the industry.
Although EU residents participate in tourism in other European countries and destinations around the world, domestic tourism is also an important sector of the European travel market; 23 percent of EU residents only traveled domestically in 2015, compared to 15 percent taking only outbound trips. In total, overnight domestic trips in European Union member states totaled 880 million in the same year.
Travel and tourism in Europe - Important statistics
- 1. Industry overview
Travel and tourism's direct contribution to GDP worldwide 2016, by region- Travel and tourism's direct contribution to GDP in Europe 2011-2027
- Travel and tourism's total contribution to GDP in Europe 2011-2027
- +Leading European countries in the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index 2017
- +Leading European travel and leisure companies in 2015, by market value
- Travel and tourism contribution to employment in Europe 2016, by type
- 2. Inbound tourism
- Number of international tourist arrivals worldwide 2005-2016, by region
- +Number of international tourist arrivals in Europe 1990-2016
- +International tourist arrivals in Europe 2010-2016, by region
- +Inbound visitor growth in Europe 2011-2018, by region
- +European countries with the largest number of international tourist arrivals in 2016
- +International tourist arrival growth in European countries in 2015
- 3. Domestic and outbound tourism
- +Share of international and domestic trips taken by EU residents 2012-2015
- Number of domestic trips in the European Union 2012-2015
- Number of nights spent on domestic trips in the European Union 2012-2015
- +Outbound visitor growth in Europe 2011-2018, by region
- Number of outbound trips made in the European Union 2012-2015
- Number of outbound trips made in the European Union by country in 2015
- 4. Tourism revenues
- Tourism spending in Europe 2016, by travel purpose
- International tourism spending in Europe 2011-2027
- Domestic travel spending in Europe 2011-2027
- +International tourism receipts of Europe 2009-2016, by region
- +European countries with the largest international tourism receipts 2016
- Leading European cities in international visitor spending 2016
- Outbound travel expenditure in Europe 2011-2027
- 5. Accommodation
- Number of travel accommodation establishments in the EU 2006-2015
- Number of tourist accommodation establishments in the EU 2015, by type
- +Occupancy rate of the hotel industry in Europe 2010-2016
- +Monthly hotel occupancy rates in Europe 2016-2017, by region
- +Average daily rate of hotels in Europe 2010-2016
- +Hotel revenue per available room in Europe 2010-2016
- Number of nights in short-stay accommodation in the EU 2006-2015
- +Nights in short-stay accommodation in the EU 2006-2015, by residents / non-residents
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