STORY BY PAUL HUGHES, APRIL 2023 IMAGE OF SLOVANIA BY ARNAUD STECKLE
Around 747 million travelers made Europe their destination of choice in 2019, which was more than 50% of all international travel worldwide.
However, the pandemic and resulting lockdowns forced this number of be slashed by more than 500 million in 2020, with only 236 million visitors traveling to Europe.
Despite pandemic challenges, Europe’s visitor numbers have continued to rebound, reaching almost 585 million in 2022 and showing continued strong growth in 2023.
One massive change however has been the impact on tourism due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which slashed Russia's visitor numbers by 99.5% in 2022!
France continues to be being the hottest travel destination in Europe, with the greatest number of visitors coming from the United Kingdom (with around 13 million either flying, making the 35-minute Eurotunnel trip under the English Channel, or the 90-minute ferry trip).
Next were 12.3 million Germans visitors, 11.6 million from Belgium, seven million from Italy, with slightly fewer from Switzerland and Spain, and 4.7 million from the Netherlands.
Around 4.5 million Americans were the largest non-European group of visitors, followed in order by Oceania (including Australia and New Zealand), China, Central and South America, the Middle East, Far East, Africa, Scandinavia and Japan.
However, the pandemic and resulting lockdowns forced this number of be slashed by more than 500 million in 2020, with only 236 million visitors traveling to Europe.
Despite pandemic challenges, Europe’s visitor numbers have continued to rebound, reaching almost 585 million in 2022 and showing continued strong growth in 2023.
One massive change however has been the impact on tourism due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which slashed Russia's visitor numbers by 99.5% in 2022!
France continues to be being the hottest travel destination in Europe, with the greatest number of visitors coming from the United Kingdom (with around 13 million either flying, making the 35-minute Eurotunnel trip under the English Channel, or the 90-minute ferry trip).
Next were 12.3 million Germans visitors, 11.6 million from Belgium, seven million from Italy, with slightly fewer from Switzerland and Spain, and 4.7 million from the Netherlands.
Around 4.5 million Americans were the largest non-European group of visitors, followed in order by Oceania (including Australia and New Zealand), China, Central and South America, the Middle East, Far East, Africa, Scandinavia and Japan.
The top 10 travel destination countries in Europe in 2019, based on international visitors, are:
1. France
The top 10 travel destination countries in Europe in 2019, based on international visitors, are:
1. France
There is much more to France than the Eiffel Tower.
France’s popularity with tourists is more about the history, culture, fashions, foods, museums, castles, cathedrals, palaces and diversity across the country.
With about 90 million visitors in 2019 (an increase from around 60 million 20 years ago), you could spend 12 months in the world’s most visited country and still enjoy a different world-class experience every day.
Paris was the second most popular European city visited after London, with almost 17 million international visitors welcomed.
France’s popularity with tourists is more about the history, culture, fashions, foods, museums, castles, cathedrals, palaces and diversity across the country.
With about 90 million visitors in 2019 (an increase from around 60 million 20 years ago), you could spend 12 months in the world’s most visited country and still enjoy a different world-class experience every day.
Paris was the second most popular European city visited after London, with almost 17 million international visitors welcomed.
2. Spain
|
|
Home to 47 UNESCO world heritage sites and some fabulous Mediterranean and Atlantic beaches, Spain welcomed around 83 million visitors to make it Europe’s second most visited destination.
Boasting some of the most famous football teams in the world and an international culinary offering, visitor numbers in Spain continued to grow despite a lull during the Catalonian constitutional crisis in 2017-2018 (we visited Barcelona during that crisis and the famous La Rambla was virtually deserted).
Boasting some of the most famous football teams in the world and an international culinary offering, visitor numbers in Spain continued to grow despite a lull during the Catalonian constitutional crisis in 2017-2018 (we visited Barcelona during that crisis and the famous La Rambla was virtually deserted).
3. Italy
Home to countless beaches, cathedrals, castles, palaces, vineyards, world-famous cuisine, remarkable scenery and historic Roman buildings like the Colosseum, more than 62 million travelers placed Italy third in visitor popularity.
Many other attractions such as the Vatican Museum also helped make Rome the third most visited city in Europe, with Florence, Milan, Naples, and Venice among Italy’s most visited cities.
Many other attractions such as the Vatican Museum also helped make Rome the third most visited city in Europe, with Florence, Milan, Naples, and Venice among Italy’s most visited cities.
4. Turkey
Our brief visit to Turkey in 2016 was largely to the the ancient Greek city of Ephesus, the history of which has been traced back around 3,200 years and today continues to emerge from centuries of being buried under silt.
Formerly known as Constantinople, Istanbul is on the bucket list of many travelers and was a key to ranking Turkey with tne fourth most visitors, scoring around 46 million visitors.
Key attractions are Turkey's long, hot and dry summers and mild but humid winters; the luxurious hotels in the larger cities; centuries of different architectural styles; and world famous middle eastern foods.
Not to forget some amazing leather goods at bargain. prices.
5. Germany
Formerly known as Constantinople, Istanbul is on the bucket list of many travelers and was a key to ranking Turkey with tne fourth most visitors, scoring around 46 million visitors.
Key attractions are Turkey's long, hot and dry summers and mild but humid winters; the luxurious hotels in the larger cities; centuries of different architectural styles; and world famous middle eastern foods.
Not to forget some amazing leather goods at bargain. prices.
5. Germany
Known more for having one of the strongest economies in the world than it is for its tourism, Germany attracts almost 40 million visitors a year.
Sharing its borders with Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland and Switzerland, key attractions include the Neuschwanstein Castle, Cologne Cathedral, Berlin and events like Oktoberfest.
We loved Berlin, but Cologne was also impressive with the Cathedral, the Time Ride and a half day spent as "taste testers" at the Lindt chocolate factory!
6. United Kingdom
Sharing its borders with Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland and Switzerland, key attractions include the Neuschwanstein Castle, Cologne Cathedral, Berlin and events like Oktoberfest.
We loved Berlin, but Cologne was also impressive with the Cathedral, the Time Ride and a half day spent as "taste testers" at the Lindt chocolate factory!
6. United Kingdom
The four constitutional countries of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland make up the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, known simply as the UK.
Almost 38 million visitors flock to see the many castles, churches and palaces that make the UK famous.
Popular attractions include locations like Stonehenge; villages found in places like the Cotswolds; and the diversity of lifestyles and scenery stretching from the white cliffs of Dover in the south to Edinburgh Castle and the dramatic windswept mountains, forests, glens and moors of Scotland in the north.
7. Austria
Almost 38 million visitors flock to see the many castles, churches and palaces that make the UK famous.
Popular attractions include locations like Stonehenge; villages found in places like the Cotswolds; and the diversity of lifestyles and scenery stretching from the white cliffs of Dover in the south to Edinburgh Castle and the dramatic windswept mountains, forests, glens and moors of Scotland in the north.
7. Austria
Innsbruck and skiing in the Austrian Alps are among the key attractions for around 31 million visitors who land in Austria every year.
Monuments and ruins going back to the Middle Ages as well as some amazing castles are on the bucket list of many tourists, along with the capital, Vienna.
8. Greece
Monuments and ruins going back to the Middle Ages as well as some amazing castles are on the bucket list of many tourists, along with the capital, Vienna.
8. Greece
More than 200 amazing Greek Islands - including the most popular Santorini with its whitewashed, blue-roofed houses perched on cliffs above a volcanic crater (or caldera) and the party island of Mykonos - helped to attract just over 30 million visitors to Greece each year.
World famous foods - especially featuring cheeses and seafoods - are the icing on the cake so-to-speak when visiting places like the ruins of Delphi, which was the religious centre of ancient Greece; the Acropolis; and of course the Greek capital Athens.
9. Russia
World famous foods - especially featuring cheeses and seafoods - are the icing on the cake so-to-speak when visiting places like the ruins of Delphi, which was the religious centre of ancient Greece; the Acropolis; and of course the Greek capital Athens.
9. Russia
We were fortunate to experience a two-day stopover at St Peterburg in Russia as part of a Baltic cruise in 2019, just before the pandemic and the same year more the 25 million international tourists visited the world’s biggest country (see multiple stories here).
However, these numbers dropped by more than 99.5% to less than 150,000 in the nine months following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, devastating the whole Rurrian tourism industry.
It is predicted that it could at least a decade before that number of travelers feel both physically and emotionally save visiting this region again.
10. Portugal
However, these numbers dropped by more than 99.5% to less than 150,000 in the nine months following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, devastating the whole Rurrian tourism industry.
It is predicted that it could at least a decade before that number of travelers feel both physically and emotionally save visiting this region again.
10. Portugal
Almost 23 million international visitors lets Portugal take the final place in the top 10 most visited countries in Europe, but this will change when Russia drops out after the 2023 rankings are released.
The capital Lisbon and the city of Porto are the two most popular regions, however many historic palaces and castles, some great surfing and swimming beaches, as well as beautiful scenery are also big attractions.
The most popular tourist attraction is Saint George’s Castle in Lisbon, which attracts more than two million visitors a year.
Back to the Home Page
The capital Lisbon and the city of Porto are the two most popular regions, however many historic palaces and castles, some great surfing and swimming beaches, as well as beautiful scenery are also big attractions.
The most popular tourist attraction is Saint George’s Castle in Lisbon, which attracts more than two million visitors a year.
Back to the Home Page