Figures released by the Centre for Retail Studies at the University of Bifröst, foreign visitors spent 46% more in Iceland during September 2015 than September 2014. When compared to 2012 the increase is 122%.
A longer tourism season
This is not only a reflection of the growing tourism industry, but also the expansion of the tourism season. Until quite recently tourism was largely concentrated over the summer months, June-August. In 2015, however, the tourism season started earlier, or already in April, and seems to last longer, as spending by foreign visitors in September of this year was the same as spending in August 2013.
Swiss, Norwegian and US travellers spend most
The findings of the centre are based on figures of foreign credit card use, which covers most spending by foreign visitors. In September 2015 purchases using foreign credit cards were 13.7 billion ISK (110 million USD/100 million EUR). On average, visitors from Switzerland spent most per person, or 144,000 ISK, followed by visitors from Norway (135,000 per traveller) and the US (134,000 per traveller).
The data also shows that sales of packaged tours by domestic travel agencies grew by 94% compared to the year before.
Figures released by the Centre for Retail Studies at the University of Bifröst, foreign visitors spent 46% more in Iceland during September 2015 than September 2014. When compared to 2012 the increase is 122%.
A longer tourism season
This is not only a reflection of the growing tourism industry, but also the expansion of the tourism season. Until quite recently tourism was largely concentrated over the summer months, June-August. In 2015, however, the tourism season started earlier, or already in April, and seems to last longer, as spending by foreign visitors in September of this year was the same as spending in August 2013.
Swiss, Norwegian and US travellers spend most
The findings of the centre are based on figures of foreign credit card use, which covers most spending by foreign visitors. In September 2015 purchases using foreign credit cards were 13.7 billion ISK (110 million USD/100 million EUR). On average, visitors from Switzerland spent most per person, or 144,000 ISK, followed by visitors from Norway (135,000 per traveller) and the US (134,000 per traveller).
The data also shows that sales of packaged tours by domestic travel agencies grew by 94% compared to the year before.
