After years of dramatic double digit increases the growth in tourism seems to have come to an end. According to the latest figures on hotel stays from Statistics Iceland, overnight stays by foreign travelers in June were virtually unchanged from June of 2017. Overnight stays by Icelanders increased year-over-year, which explains a 4% increase in overnight stays at hotels. Meanwhile there was a 1% drop in the number of overnight stays at hotels by foreign travelers.
Read more: Have we reached Peak Puffin? Tourism in Iceland grew slower during Q4 than projected
For some time various measures have indicated that the increase was leveling off, a very welcome development after what many considered to be excessive growth. Many commentators have argued that slower growth was necessary to allow Iceland to catch up with the growth of tourism.
Airbnb accounted for 16% of total
According to the data, which was released today, overnight stays in all accommodation in June were 1,188,600, compared with 1,195,000 in June last year. Overnight stays in hotels and guesthouses were 589,200, overnight stays at other accommodation types (such as youth hostels and campsites) were 408,600, and overnight stays through websites such as Airbnb were 190,800.
Read more: Airbnb nation: 10% of Icelandic apartments listed on Airbnb: A major cause of rising home prices
Statistics Iceland estimates that foreign travelers also spent 55,400 nights in RVs and camper vans outside campsites, or with friends and relatives, or in other types of accommodation where no money exchanged hands.
78% occupancy rate for bedrooms in June
Nights spent by foreign travelers at hotels and guesthouses were 369,100, which accounted for 90% of the total number of overnight stays in June. USA residents had the greatest number of overnight stays (131,200), then residents of Germany (43,900) and UK (31.300). Overnight stays of Icelanders in June were 41,600.
Occupancy rate for bedrooms in hotels was 77.7% in June 2018 and decreased by 3.2 percentage points from June 2017, when it was 80.9%. Over the same period, the number of hotel bedrooms has increased by 5.5%. The occupancy rate for bedrooms in June was highest in the Southwest, or 84.7%.
After years of dramatic double digit increases the growth in tourism seems to have come to an end. According to the latest figures on hotel stays from Statistics Iceland, overnight stays by foreign travelers in June were virtually unchanged from June of 2017. Overnight stays by Icelanders increased year-over-year, which explains a 4% increase in overnight stays at hotels. Meanwhile there was a 1% drop in the number of overnight stays at hotels by foreign travelers.
Read more: Have we reached Peak Puffin? Tourism in Iceland grew slower during Q4 than projected
For some time various measures have indicated that the increase was leveling off, a very welcome development after what many considered to be excessive growth. Many commentators have argued that slower growth was necessary to allow Iceland to catch up with the growth of tourism.
Airbnb accounted for 16% of total
According to the data, which was released today, overnight stays in all accommodation in June were 1,188,600, compared with 1,195,000 in June last year. Overnight stays in hotels and guesthouses were 589,200, overnight stays at other accommodation types (such as youth hostels and campsites) were 408,600, and overnight stays through websites such as Airbnb were 190,800.
Read more: Airbnb nation: 10% of Icelandic apartments listed on Airbnb: A major cause of rising home prices
Statistics Iceland estimates that foreign travelers also spent 55,400 nights in RVs and camper vans outside campsites, or with friends and relatives, or in other types of accommodation where no money exchanged hands.
78% occupancy rate for bedrooms in June
Nights spent by foreign travelers at hotels and guesthouses were 369,100, which accounted for 90% of the total number of overnight stays in June. USA residents had the greatest number of overnight stays (131,200), then residents of Germany (43,900) and UK (31.300). Overnight stays of Icelanders in June were 41,600.
Occupancy rate for bedrooms in hotels was 77.7% in June 2018 and decreased by 3.2 percentage points from June 2017, when it was 80.9%. Over the same period, the number of hotel bedrooms has increased by 5.5%. The occupancy rate for bedrooms in June was highest in the Southwest, or 84.7%.
