Based on first reports on overnight stays in March, the preliminary estimate of overnight stays in hotels was 307,000 (95% confidence interval 289,000-325,000), thereof 73,000 Icelandic (95% CI 61,000-84,000) and 234,000 foreign overnight stays (95% CI 217,000-250,000).
In March 2021, there were 49,700 overnight stays and thereof about 82% by Icelanders compared with about 24% in March 2022. Albeit there has been an 80% increase of Icelandic overnight stays between years, the increase is primarily driven by an increase in foreign overnight stays.
Based on the same estimates, bed occupancy rates in March 2022 were approximately 43.2% (95% CI 40.7%-45.7%) compared with 11.1% in the same month last year. Bed occupancy rate is similar to March 2012 (42.5%).
The temporary estimate for overnight stays in February was 295,000 (95% Cl 283,000 – 307,000) whereas the final number of overnight stays was considerably lower or 271,200. The corresponding temporary estimate for bed occupancy rates was 47.0% (95% Cl 45.2%-48.8%). The final occupancy rate in that month was 40.5%.
Hotels are currently going through a period of volatility in bed supply, leading to a considerable increase in uncertainty in the temporary estimates of overnight stays. These figures should therefore be taken with extra caution until the final number of overnight stays in hotels have been published.