Winter tourism on the rise in the EU

2020-01-02

Compared with the 2017-2018 winter season, 18.9 million more nights (+2.6%) were spent in hotels and similar establishments in the European Union (EU) during the 2018-2019 winter season.

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Winter tourism increased in 25 of the 27 EU Member States with available data. The highest increase was recorded in Romania (+8.6%), followed by Croatia (+7.4%) and Poland (+7.3%). Only two EU Member States reported a decrease: Greece (-8.3%) and Malta (-3.5%).

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The most popular EU destinations for tourists from all over the world travelling outside their own country of residence during the 2018-2019 winter season were Spain (which accounted for 20% of all nights spent by non-residents in EU hotels and similar establishments), Italy and the United Kingdom (each 12%), Austria (10%), Germany and France (each 9%). Winter tourism to these six countries accounted for almost three quarters (72%) of all nights spent by non-residents in EU hotels and similar establishments.

source: EU.Eurostat