Contribution of leading destinations to inbound tourism in European countries 2023

In 2023, London played a prominent role in supporting international tourism in the United Kingdom. That year, the UK's capital accounted for roughly 53 percent of all inbound tourist arrivals in the country. Meanwhile, Paris represented around 22 percent of the international arrivals to France, whereas travelers to Barcelona made up 14 percent of inbound tourist arrivals in Spain in 2023. 

What are the most visited European cities?

When looking at the number of inbound tourist arrivals to leading travel destinations in Europe, Paris and Île-de-France, the region surrounding the French capital, recorded the highest figure in 2023, with nearly 22 million arrivals. London and Istanbul, also among the leading city tourism destinations in Europe based on the number of bed nights, followed in the ranking that year, with over 20 million and 17 million inbound tourist arrivals, respectively.

What are the most visited European countries?

Both before and after the impact of the health crisis, France was the most visited European country by international travelers. In 2023, it reported 100 million inbound arrivals, ranking ahead of Spain, Italy, and Turkey. On the other hand, Spain was the European country with the highest number of inbound tourism receipts, followed by the United Kingdom.