The year 2024 will go down in history as the best year on record for European tourism. According to official data, the total number of overnight stays in tourist accommodation establishments across the European Union exceeded 3 billion, marking a 2.2% increase compared to 2023, with 65.4 million additional overnight stays.
The Boost from International Travelers
One of the key drivers of this growth was the increase in international tourism, which saw 67.2 million more overnight stays compared to the previous year (+4.9%). In contrast, overnight stays by domestic travelers saw a slight decline of 0.1% (-1.8 million).
Spain, Italy, France, and Germany Lead EU Tourism
The data shows that four countries accounted for more than 60% of the total overnight stays in the EU:
- Spain: 500 million overnight stays.
- Italy: 458 million.
- France: 451 million.
- Germany: 441 million.
On the other hand, the countries with the lowest number of overnight stays were Luxembourg (3.4 million), Latvia (4.7 million), and Estonia (6.6 million).
Top Growth Destinations in 2024
While growth was widespread, some countries experienced particularly significant increases in tourism. Malta led the ranking with a 14.4% increase, followed by Latvia with 7.4% more overnight stays compared to 2023. On the opposite side, only four countries saw declines: Luxembourg (-2.7%), France (-0.6%), Belgium (-0.2%), and Sweden (-0.1%).
A Strong Final Quarter Seals the Record Year
The last quarter of 2024 played a crucial role in achieving this record, with a 5.1% increase in overnight stays in the EU compared to the fourth quarter of 2023. Most EU countries experienced growth in hotel stays, with the highest increases in:
- Malta: +16.5%.
- Latvia: +12.5%.
- Italy: +11.1%.
- Croatia: +10.2%.
The only exception was Ireland, where hotel overnight stays decreased by 1.8%.
Outlook for 2025
Tourism in the EU remains a cornerstone of the economy, with trends pointing towards further internationalization and destination diversification. If growth continues at this pace, 2025 could set yet another record, further solidifying Europe as the world’s top tourist destination.
Source: EUROSTAT