NEWS RELEASE TOURISM 14 AUGUST 2019

Traffic through Lyngdalsheiði, which is a part of the popular Golden Circle route, has decreased during 2019. Vehicles passing through Lyngdalsheiði in July decreased by 17% compared to the same month last year. During the last 4 months, April to August, the number of vehicles counted was 209 thousand, compared to 237 thousand in 2018, a 12% decrease between years. Comparing the first 7 months of 2019 to the same period last year shows a 10% decrease, with the number of vehicles counted decreasing from 336 thousand to 302 thousand during this period.

The number of tourists coming to Iceland in July was approximately 210 thousand and decreased by 16% compared to the same month in 2018 when they were 250 thousand. During the same month, Icelandic passengers decreased by 9%, from 66 thousand to 60 thousand passengers.

The number of tourists coming to Iceland in the period from April to August 2019 decreased by 17% compared to the same period last year. The number of tourists during this period dropped from 737 thousand in 2018 to 610 thousand in 2019.

Total overnight stays in Iceland were 1,166 thousand in June 2019 and decreased by 3% compared to the same month last year when they were 1,208 thousand. Accommodation paid through websites, e.g. Airbnb, decreased by 11% and other types of unlisted accommodation decreased by 30% during the same month. At the same time overnight stays in hotels and guesthouses was relatively unchanged. Hotel room supply increased by 3% while occupancy rate decreased from 78% to 72%.

This release includes updated statistics on overnight stays and tourists through Keflavik airport. Also released are updated statistics on rental cars from the Iceland transport authority, road traffic statistics from Icelandic Road Administration, a count from the Icelandic Tourist board on passengers departing Iceland and traffic statistics for Keflavik airport.

Tourism short-term indicators June    July - June   
Overnight stays120182019  %2017-2018 2018-2019%
Total overnight stays12079101166450 --3%1093884610729425 --2%
Hotels and guesthouses589261591522 +0%56726655778788 +2%
Airbnb and similar sites190000170000 --11%19110001771000 --7%
Other types of unpaid accommodation16000042000 --30%606900521000 --14%
Other types of listed accommodation2368649362928 --2%27482812658637 --3%
  June    July - June   
Occupancy rate of hotel rooms20182019   %2017-2018 2018-2019 %
Total overnight stays in hotels419173397622 --5%43372764384198 +1%
Available hotel rooms1012210438 +3%115084122641 +7%
Occupancy rate78%72% --669%66% --4
  Q1    Q2-Q1  
Balance of trade in services (million ISK)20182019   %2017-2018 2018-2019 %
Revenue from non-Icelandic tourists9423093166 +8%506277518472 +4%
- Passenger flights3253826807 -0%180843176433 +1%
- Consumption6169266360 +12%325764342039 +5%
  March - April    May - April  
VAT turnover (million ISK)20182019   %2017-2018 2018-2019 %
Total turnover9468983586 --12%654768660496 +1%
- Accommodation1158811630 +0%9567798011 +2%
- Passenger flights4313031887 --26%278684268697 --4%
- Catering and services1550314995 --3%9724499074 +2%
- Travel agents and planners (domestic)1150312626 +10%8826598469 +12%
- Travel agents and planners (abroad)28402861 +1%1513116823 +11%
- Car rentals66376346 --4%5147150866 --1%
- Passenger transport on land30502835 --7%2276423168 +2%
- Passenger water transport440407 --8%55315389 --3%
  March   Average employees April - March
Employees320182019   %2017-2018 2018-2019 %
Total employees in key tourism sectors2730025900 --5%2920029300 +0%
- Accommodation47003900 --16%48005300 +11%
- Passenger flights61006000 --2%68006800 -0%
- Catering and services103009800 --5%1090010500 --3%
- Travel agents and planners35003600 +2%38003900 +4%
- Other tourism sectors27002600 --7%29002800 --3%
  August    Average September - August 
Rental cars420182019   %2017-2018 2018-2019 %
Total rental cars26.94625.437 --6%24.84425.177 +1%
Rental cars (active)26.21124.938 --5%22.79623.342 +2%
Rental cars (inactive)735552 --25%2.0481.835 --10%
  July    August - July   
Traffic on ring road520182019   %2017-2018 2018-2019 %
South Iceland2127019291 --9%176862179627 +2%
West Iceland2046617812 --13%160963168532 +5%
North Iceland1532213909 --9%101808103205 +1%
East Iceland42993558 --17%2700126836 --1%
  July    August - July   
Passenger count to and from Iceland20182019   % 2017-2018 2018-2019 %
Total Passengers6344852291608 --15%29123612779254 --5%
- Foreign nationality278613231281 --17%22557962140983 --5%
- Thereof approximated no. of tourists7248867209573 --16%20199021919856 --5%
- Icelandic nationality6623960327 --9%656565646421 --2%
  July    August - July   
Traffic statistics - Keflavik Airport20182019   %2017-2018 2018-2019 %
Total movements (departures/landings)100159542 --5%9914989954 --9%
Total passenger movements81187662843473 --29%94298168573282 --9%

Table in a pdf format

1 Other accommodations are camping sites, youth hostels, holiday centres, lodges in wilderness, apartments, sleeping-bag facilities and private-home accommodation. Other unpaid accommodation includes overnight stays in cars, tents or caravans outside campsites and indoor accommodation where no payment was made
2 Numbers rounded off to nearest hundred
3 According to data from Icelandic transport authority
4 According to numbers from 14 counters on the ring road from Icelandic Road Administration. Monthly numbers show the average count each month. 12-month rolling period specifies the total count during the period. Data is used from 14 counters located on the ring road
5 According to numbers from Icelandic Tourist Board
6 See further information in news report and data table
7 Total passenger movements count departures, arrivals and connecting passengers which are counted twice

Statistics:
Tourism indicators
Balance of trade and services
Revenue from foreign travelers
Passengers and tourists through Keflavik Airport

Further Information

For further information please contact 528 1000 , email gistiskyrslur@hagstofa.is

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