International tourist arrivals in Europe 2006-2023
The number of international tourist arrivals in Europe grew in 2023 compared to the previous year. Despite a significant annual increase, inbound arrivals remained below the figure from 2019, totaling around 707 million in 2023. That year, Europe was the region with the highest number of international tourist arrivals worldwide.
What are the leading travel markets in Europe?
Both before and after the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, France topped the ranking of the European countries with the highest number of inbound tourist arrivals, ahead of Spain, Italy, and Turkey. Overall, international tourist arrivals in France reached 100 million in 2023. When looking at the European countries with the highest inbound tourism receipts, Spain recorded the highest figure that year, followed by the United Kingdom and France.
The economic contribution of travel and tourism in Europe
In 2023, the total contribution of travel and tourism to Europe’s gross domestic product amounted to over two trillion U.S. dollars. This figure includes the direct, indirect, and induced impacts of these industries. Meanwhile, travel and tourism's total contribution to employment in Europe reached nearly 37 million that year.
