NEWS RELEASE TOURISM 15 JULY 2019

The number of tourists coming to Iceland was approximately 173 thousand in June and decreased by 17% compared with the same month in 2018 when it was 209 thousand. The number of tourists decreased by 20% in the 2nd quarter of 2019 compared with the same period the year before, from 488 thousand in 2018 to 390 thousand in 2019.

Total overnight stays in Iceland were 690 thousand in May, which is a 10% decrease compared with the same month last year when they were 767 thousand. Accommodation sold through websites similar to Airbnb decreased by 29% in May, from 125 thousand in 2018 to 89 thousand in 2019. Hotel room usage rate lowered from 58% to 56% while hotel room supply increased by 13% during the same months, from 9,200 rooms to 10,500 rooms.

During a 3-month period, from March to May, total overnight stays in hotels reduced by 3% while overnight stays purchased through Airbnb and similar sites reduced by 14%.

Number of passengers departing from Keflavik airport decreased by 12% during the same 3-month period and tourists coming to Iceland decreased by 15%. According to ISAVIA, exchange passengers decreased by 43% during the same period, from 560 thousand in 2018 to 290 thousand in 2019. During the 2nd quarter of 2019 the number of exchange passengers has decreased by 48% compared with the same period in 2018.

This release includes updated statistics on overnight stays, revenue from foreign tourists, VAT turnover in tourism related sectors 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.

short The number of tourists coming to Iceland in the 2nd quarter of 2019 has dropped by 20% compared with the 2nd quarter of 2018.

Tourism short-term indicators May    June - May   
Overnight stays120182019  %2017-2018 2018-2019%
Total overnight stays766776689233 --10%1103980810770885 --2%
Hotels and guesthouses435291412353 --5%56608055776617 +2%
Airbnb and similar sites12500089000 --29%19510001791000 --8%
Other types of unpaid accommodation13600033000 --8%629900539000 --14%
Other types of listed accommodation2170485154880 --9%27981032664268 --5%
  May    June - May   
Occupancy rate of hotel rooms20182019   %2017-2018 2018-2019 %
Total overnight stays in hotels317689308523 --3%43139844405749 +2%
Available hotel rooms922310459 +13%114317122325 +7%
Occupancy rate58%56% --266%70% +-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%
  July    Average August - July  
Rental cars420182019   %2017-2018 2018-2019 %
Total rental cars2694625640 --5%2477925309 +2%
Rental cars (active)2621124943 --5%2272723479 +3%
Rental cars (inactive)735697 --5%20521831 --11%
  June    July - June   
Traffic on ring road520182019   %2017-2018 2018-2019 %
South Iceland1853019608 +6%175050181606 +4%
West Iceland1749319369 +11%161239171185 +6%
North Iceland1199312344 +3%102185104618 +2%
East Iceland32813215 --2%2671627577 +3%
  June    July - June   
Passenger count to and from Iceland20182019   % 2017-2018 2018-2019 %
Total Passengers6305082259702 --15%29019122832498 --2%
- Foreign nationality233874194912 --17%22491032188315 --3%
- Thereof approximated no. of tourists7208987172923 --17%20155761949936 --3%
- Icelandic nationality7120864790 --9%652809652333 -0%
  June    July - June   
Traffic statistics - Keflavik Airport20182019   %2017-2018 2018-2019 %
Total movements (departures/landings)103478353 --19%9919590427 --9%
Total passenger movements81088782787752 --28%93421178917471 --5%
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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