Europe isn't just back—it's booming, as proven by a record-breaking 2023 that saw France host 100 million international tourists and the continent as a whole welcome nearly 747 million arrivals.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, France welcomed 100 million international tourists, a record high surpassing pre-pandemic levels by 8%.
- Spain saw 85.17 million international visitors in 2023, up 11.7% from 2022.
- Italy recorded 57.25 million inbound tourists in 2023, recovering to 98% of 2019 figures.
- In 2023, European hotels recorded 2.8 billion overnight stays, up 10% from 2022.
- France led with 455 million nights spent by tourists in 2023.
- Spain had 474 million overnight stays in 2023, 12% recovery.
- Tourism contributed €2.1 trillion to Europe's GDP in 2023, or 9.1% of total.
- France's tourism sector generated €215 billion in 2023, 7% of GDP.
- Spain earned €193 billion from tourism in 2023, 12.8% GDP share.
- Tourism employed 28.3 million people across Europe in 2023, 6.2% of total employment.
- France had 2.8 million tourism jobs in 2023.
- Spain employed 3.4 million in tourism sector in 2023.
- International tourists spent €650 billion in Europe in 2023.
- France received €70 billion in tourist spending in 2023.
- Spain's tourists spent €108 billion in 2023.
Europe's tourism industry is thriving, having nearly fully recovered from the pandemic's impact.
Economic Impact
- Tourism contributed €2.1 trillion to Europe's GDP in 2023, or 9.1% of total.
- France's tourism sector generated €215 billion in 2023, 7% of GDP.
- Spain earned €193 billion from tourism in 2023, 12.8% GDP share.
- Italy's tourism output was €231 billion in 2023, 13% of GDP.
- Germany's tourism added €105 billion to economy in 2023.
- UK tourism contributed £285 billion in 2023, 10% GDP.
- Greece's tourism GDP was €21 billion in 2023, 20% share.
- Portugal generated €25 billion from tourism in 2023, 15% GDP.
- Austria's tourism sector valued at €40 billion in 2023.
- Croatia earned €13.6 billion from tourism in 2023, 25% GDP.
- Switzerland's tourism contributed CHF 45 billion in 2023.
- Netherlands tourism GDP impact was €48 billion in 2023.
- Belgium's tourism added €17 billion to GDP in 2023.
- Sweden generated SEK 200 billion from tourism in 2023.
- Poland's tourism contributed PLN 100 billion in 2023.
- Hungary tourism GDP was HUF 5.5 trillion in 2023.
- Czech tourism generated CZK 600 billion in 2023.
- Denmark's tourism impact €10 billion in 2023.
- Norway tourism contributed NOK 150 billion in 2023.
- Finland's tourism GDP €12 billion in 2023.
- Romania earned €8 billion from tourism in 2023.
- Bulgaria's tourism GDP share 10%, €6 billion in 2023.
- Ireland tourism generated €10.5 billion in 2023.
- Paris tourism economic impact €45 billion in 2023.
- London contributed £40 billion to UK economy via tourism 2023.
- Rome's tourism GDP €25 billion in 2023.
- Barcelona generated €12 billion from tourism in 2023.
- Amsterdam's tourism impact €15 billion in 2023.
Economic Impact Interpretation
While Europe's cultural cathedrals might inspire visitors, the tourism sector itself is the towering economic engine that powers nearly a tenth of the continent's wealth, showing that what's priceless to the soul is also precisely priced by the spreadsheet.
Employment
- Tourism employed 28.3 million people across Europe in 2023, 6.2% of total employment.
- France had 2.8 million tourism jobs in 2023.
- Spain employed 3.4 million in tourism sector in 2023.
- Italy's tourism workforce was 4.2 million in 2023.
- Germany supported 3.5 million tourism jobs in 2023.
- UK tourism employed 3.8 million people in 2023.
- Greece had 1.1 million tourism jobs in 2023.
- Portugal employed 800,000 in tourism in 2023.
- Austria's tourism sector had 700,000 jobs in 2023.
- Croatia supported 450,000 tourism jobs in 2023.
- Switzerland employed 550,000 in tourism 2023.
- Netherlands had 700,000 tourism jobs in 2023.
- Belgium employed 300,000 in tourism 2023.
- Sweden's tourism workforce 250,000 in 2023.
- Poland had 1.2 million tourism jobs 2023.
- Hungary employed 500,000 in tourism 2023.
- Czechia had 450,000 tourism jobs in 2023.
- Denmark employed 200,000 in tourism 2023.
- Norway's tourism jobs 180,000 in 2023.
- Finland had 150,000 tourism jobs 2023.
- Romania employed 600,000 in tourism 2023.
- Bulgaria had 400,000 tourism jobs in 2023.
- Ireland supported 300,000 tourism jobs 2023.
- Paris region had 500,000 tourism jobs in 2023.
- London employed 700,000 in tourism 2023.
- Rome had 400,000 tourism jobs 2023.
- Barcelona supported 150,000 tourism jobs 2023.
- Amsterdam had 120,000 tourism jobs in 2023.
- Vienna employed 150,000 in tourism 2023.
Employment Interpretation
While 28.3 million Europeans may be professionally obligated to smile at your vacation mishaps, their collective industry is the serious economic backbone propping up the continent.
Overnight Stays
- In 2023, European hotels recorded 2.8 billion overnight stays, up 10% from 2022.
- France led with 455 million nights spent by tourists in 2023.
- Spain had 474 million overnight stays in 2023, 12% recovery.
- Italy registered 436 million nights in 2023.
- Germany saw 152 million foreign overnight stays in 2023.
- UK recorded 139 million nights by overseas visitors in 2023.
- Greece achieved 153 million nights in 2023, up 15%.
- Portugal logged 80 million overnight stays in 2023.
- Austria had 132 million nights in 2023.
- Croatia saw 112 million overnight stays in 2023.
- Switzerland recorded 42 million nights by internationals in 2023.
- Netherlands had 70 million nights in 2023.
- Belgium noted 38 million overnight stays in 2023.
- Sweden registered 24 million foreign nights in 2023.
- Poland had 85 million nights in 2023.
- Hungary saw 56 million overnight stays in 2023.
- Czechia recorded 49 million nights in 2023.
- Denmark had 42 million nights in 2023.
- Norway logged 19 million foreign nights in 2023.
- Finland saw 17 million nights in 2023.
- Romania had 28 million overnight stays in 2023.
- Bulgaria recorded 52 million nights in 2023.
- Ireland noted 27 million nights by overseas in 2023.
- Paris region had 200 million nights in 2023.
- London saw 85 million nights in 2023.
- Rome registered 45 million nights in 2023.
- Barcelona had 55 million nights in 2023.
- Amsterdam recorded 35 million nights in 2023.
- Vienna had 32 million nights in 2023.
Overnight Stays Interpretation
Europe's hotels, with a record-breaking 2.8 billion overnight stays, suggest that despite our digital age, we still crave the tangible romance of a foreign pillow, led by Spain and France in a sun-soaked, culture-filled showdown for tourist supremacy.
Tourist Arrivals
- In 2023, France welcomed 100 million international tourists, a record high surpassing pre-pandemic levels by 8%.
- Spain saw 85.17 million international visitors in 2023, up 11.7% from 2022.
- Italy recorded 57.25 million inbound tourists in 2023, recovering to 98% of 2019 figures.
- Germany hosted 39.6 million international arrivals in 2023, a 13% increase year-over-year.
- The UK attracted 38.4 million overseas visitors in 2023, 5% above 2019 levels.
- Greece received 32.5 million international tourists in 2023, boosting arrivals by 20% from 2022.
- Portugal logged 26.5 million foreign tourists in 2023, a 18% rise from pre-COVID.
- Austria welcomed 31.2 million international guests in 2023, recovering fully to 2019.
- Turkey (European part focus) had 49.2 million visitors in 2023, up 25%.
- Netherlands saw 20.1 million inbound tourists in 2023, 7% growth.
- Switzerland recorded 10.8 million overnight stays by foreigners in Q1 2024 alone.
- Croatia attracted 20 million tourists in 2023, 15% increase.
- Belgium hosted 9.5 million international arrivals in 2023.
- Sweden saw 7.8 million foreign visitors in 2023.
- Poland recorded 18.5 million inbound tourists in 2023.
- Hungary welcomed 12.3 million international guests in 2023.
- Czech Republic had 11.2 million foreign arrivals in 2023.
- Denmark attracted 10.4 million tourists from abroad in 2023.
- Norway saw 5.6 million international visitors in 2023.
- Finland hosted 4.8 million inbound tourists in 2023.
- Romania recorded 6.2 million foreign tourists in 2023.
- Bulgaria welcomed 9.3 million international arrivals in 2023.
- Ireland saw 11.3 million overseas visitors in 2023.
- Europe as a whole reached 747 million international arrivals in 2023, 91% of 2019.
- Paris alone drew 19.1 million international tourists in 2023.
- London hosted 19.2 million inbound visitors in 2023.
- Rome attracted 10.3 million foreign tourists in 2023.
- Barcelona saw 12 million international arrivals in 2023.
- Amsterdam recorded 8.7 million tourists in 2023.
- Vienna welcomed 7.9 million international guests in 2023.
Tourist Arrivals Interpretation
Europe is officially back in business, with tourists flocking from Parisian cafés to Croatian coastlines in such record-breaking droves that the continent appears to be not just recovering from the pandemic, but staging a spectacular and slightly overwhelming comeback tour.
Tourist Spending
- International tourists spent €650 billion in Europe in 2023.
- France received €70 billion in tourist spending in 2023.
- Spain's tourists spent €108 billion in 2023.
- Italy saw €53 billion in tourism expenditure in 2023.
- Germany recorded €49 billion from tourist spending 2023.
- UK overseas visitors spent £32.5 billion in 2023.
- Greece earned €20.5 billion from tourists in 2023.
- Portugal tourists spent €14.8 billion in 2023.
- Austria received €28 billion in spending 2023.
- Croatia's tourist spending hit €10.2 billion in 2023.
- Switzerland saw CHF 22 billion spending by foreigners 2023.
- Netherlands tourists spent €25 billion in 2023.
- Belgium recorded €12.5 billion tourist spend 2023.
- Sweden saw SEK 150 billion in tourism spending 2023.
- Poland tourists spent PLN 80 billion in 2023.
- Hungary earned HUF 4.2 trillion from tourists 2023.
- Czechia saw CZK 450 billion spending 2023.
- Denmark tourists spent DKK 85 billion 2023.
- Norway recorded NOK 120 billion spending 2023.
- Finland tourists spent €6.5 billion 2023.
- Romania earned €5.2 billion from tourists 2023.
- Bulgaria saw BGN 12 billion spending 2023.
- Ireland overseas spending £6.8 billion 2023.
- Paris tourists spent €20 billion in 2023.
- London saw £21 billion spending by visitors 2023.
- Rome tourists spent €12 billion 2023.
- Barcelona recorded €9.8 billion spending 2023.
- Amsterdam tourists spent €8.5 billion 2023.
- Vienna saw €10 billion tourist spending 2023.
Tourist Spending Interpretation
While Spain is clearly winning the continental bake-off with its €108 billion sun-baked bounty, France and Italy remain fiercely competitive, proving that Europe's economy is still largely fueled by the irresistible trifecta of croissants, gelato, and the desperate need for a decent photograph.
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