eurostat tourism 2023

EU tourism: an almost full recovery to pre-pandemic levels

The upgraded EU Tourism Dashboard offers insights on the impact and state-of-play of this industry and supports the transition to greener, more digital tourism.

Fresh statistics on EU tourism suggest that in 2022, tourism demand was already at nearly 96% the level in 2019. This shows an almost full recovery on average for the EU , with countries like Belgium, Denmark, France, Ireland, and Netherlands even surpassing pre-pandemic levels.

However, recovery in Eastern European tourism destinations has been more sluggish, possibly also due to the war in Ukraine. Data also shows that international tourism demand is picking up more slowly than domestic tourism, staying in 2022 at 91% the level of 2019.

These new figures result from an update of the EU Tourism Dashboard , an interactive tool providing statistics and indicators relevant for tourism policies . These include, amongst others, the environmental and socio-economic impact in a given area, the level of digitalisation and the main tourism typology.

The recent upgrade has brought updated figures and novel indicators on the adoption of environmental labels and schemes by tourist accommodations, nature-based tourism opportunities and the economic impact of tourism. 

A greener and digitalised tourism in the EU

According to the new data, on the digitalisation front, internet infrastructure continues to improve, covering tourism destinations with ever increasing internet speeds: in 2019, only 10% of the tourism capacity had internet speed above 100 Mb/s. This has improved to 42% and 63% in 2021 and 2023, respectively.

On the green front, nearly 850 tourist accommodation establishments had the EU Ecolabel in 2022 or were registered to the EU Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) . The EU tourism dashboard also identifies that other 4750 tourist accommodations in the EU countries, Switzerland, Iceland and Norway that have other reliable environmental labels and schemes.

However, the number is still a tiny fraction of the nearly 650,000 tourist accommodation establishments in these countries.

Better data to design policies for a more sustainable tourism

The new data collected and provided in the upgraded dashboard will further help decision makers to identify vulnerabilities and opportunities, and to design effective strategies to make the EU tourism ecosystem more sustainable and resilient to possible shocks, for example encouraging further the adoption of reliable environmental labels and schemes by tourist accommodation establishments.

The EU Tourism Dashboard is a valuable source of knowledge for policy makers in EU countries and regions to better understand how tourism is progressing towards the green and digital transition, and to assess local socio-economic resilience. It can also contribute to the work of statistics experts in EU countries, of researchers, as well as of public and private operators who promote local and regional tourism.

Indicators on the dashboard are organised under three main policy pillars: green, digital and socioeconomic. The dashboard also includes descriptors of tourism demand and supply such as occupancy rates, average duration of stays, presence of UNESCO sites and many more.

Launched in October 2022, the EU Tourism Dashboard was developed by the JRC and the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs , following a request by EU Member States in 2021 to design a tool for monitoring the twin transition and resilience of the tourism ecosystem – one of the most heavily affected by the travel and health restrictions put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic. The dashboard is developed in cooperation with Eurostat and in coordination with the EU Member States.

The initiative contributes to the Transition Pathway for Tourism published in February 2022, which was created in collaboration with public and private EU tourism stakeholders to identify 27 areas of actions for the green and digital transition and for improving the resilience of EU tourism. Improving statistics and measurements for tourism regarding its economic, environmental and social impacts was recognised among key topics for action.

• Territorial intelligence

High-value datasets – tourism in the EU

Discover statistics to analyse tourism flows

This is part of a series of articles showcasing examples of high-value datasets from their different thematic categories. High-value datasets are defined by EU law based on their potential to provide essential benefits to society, the environment and the economy. This series aims to help readers find reliable and accurate information from official sources relating to the availability of various high-value datasets, and to present this information through data visualisation. You can check out the article providing an overview of high-value datasets .

Only datasets specifically defined by law can be considered high-value datasets and, as such, the data presented in this series of articles does not necessarily fall under that definition. Instead, the data has been chosen to be thematically adjacent to high-value datasets and to showcase what can be done with information made available by official EU bodies and EU Member States. The official list of high-value datasets adopted on 12 December 2022 can be found in the legal documents that define these datasets and their characteristics.

Using high-value datasets to analyse tourism

Representing nearly 10 % of the EU’s GDP and accounting for 23 million jobs in 2019 , tourism is an essential part of the EU’s economy. The EU’s tourism ecosystem involves various sectors such as food and beverage services, online information and services, travel agents and tour operators, accommodation suppliers and transportation.

Furthermore, the EU’s industrial strategy aims to accelerate the green and digital transitions and increase tourism resilience. In February 2022, the European Commission proposed a transition pathway for the tourism industry, including 27 areas of measures for the green and digital transitions and improving tourism resilience. Based on the Commission’s transition pathway, the Council of the European Union has adopted the European agenda for tourism 2030 , which includes a multiannual work plan with actions for Member States, the Commission and tourism stakeholders.

In this context, data on tourism can provide essential insights and as such, tourism statistics have been included in the list of high-value datasets. The ‘Statistics’ category of high-value datasets includes several datasets about tourism flows in Europe, as laid out by section 2 of Annex I to Regulation (EU) No 692/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council.

Tourism-related high-value datasets contain information about yearly tourism flows and include indicators such as the number of nights spent at tourist establishments, including specifically by EU residents, participation in tourism for personal purposes, tourism trips and expenditures. The indicators may also offer several breakdowns, including the countries of origin and destination, duration of the trip, means of transport and accommodation. In some cases, geographical information is also accessible, with data available up to the NUTS 2 (region), NUTS 3 (province) or coastal/non-coastal area levels.

Tourism data from Eurostat

The EU’s official statistical office, Eurostat , offers a large number of datasets to study tourism, along with a detailed page in the ‘Statistics Explained’ section that shows major trends. One way to look at tourism is to analyse where people tend to come from and where they go. Eurostat data can be used to determine the countries in which people travel the most and others where tourism is less frequent.

The following visualisation shows the share of people out of the total population participating in tourism, from Member States to other world destinations. This data shows that the countries with the highest values are the Netherlands, France, Luxembourg, Finland and Sweden.

Eurostat also offers datasets that show the preferred destinations for tourists from inside and outside the EU. A good indicator to measure this phenomenon is the total number of nights spent in tourist accommodation establishments, which is available for all guests or only for international guests .

To better understand tourists’ preferences, data can be disaggregated to show the type of accommodation they chose – a hotel, a camping site or other short-term accommodation – and whether the tourists were domestic or came from abroad.

By adjusting for population, the indicator called ‘Tourism intensity’ represents the number of nights spent by domestic or international guests in tourist accommodation. Looking at this indicator, smaller countries like Croatia, Malta, Cyprus, Austria and Greece stand out as major tourism destinations.

Tourism data on data.europa.eu

As previously mentioned, high-value datasets include several indicators through which it is possible to analyse tourism from different perspectives. Information of similar scope has been provided by Member States on the data.europa.eu portal, where it can be freely reused by everyone.

One of these indicators is tourism expenditure, for which the portal provides several datasets . Examples include a study from the EU’s Joint Research Centre that estimated the average economic value generated for each night spent or a dataset showing expenditures and earnings by and from travellers to and from Ireland.

Another interesting dataset was uploaded by the data portal of the Dutch government. The Eurostat data revealed that Dutch people are among the most active in tourist activities and this dataset offers many insights about their travel habits over time.

Datasets on data.europa.eu also cover other aspects related to tourism, such as means of transport , accommodation and booking modalities . Examples include a Joint Research Centre study that estimated the percentage of travel by train and the number of foreign tourists staying in Milan by area of origin and type of accommodation.

Data for tourism in Milan accounts for the number of nights spent in the city and shows a significant presence of tourists from other Member States – especially France and Germany. The third-largest influx of tourists come from the United States, while other important groups of people travelled to Milan from Switzerland, Liechtenstein and from several Middle Eastern countries.

Other than Eurostat and the Member States, data about tourism is also produced by the European Environmental Agency , which focuses on the environmental impact of tourism. Sociological data is made available by Eurobarometer , with public opinion surveys on a range of EU-related topics across its Member States regularly conducted by the Commission and other EU institutions since 1973. Some of those surveys asked European residents about their attitude towards tourism and the results can be downloaded from the data.europa.eu portal.

Download the data visualisations presented in this story and the data behind them.

Article by Davide Mancino

Data visualisations by Federica Fragapane

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Tourism industry eclipses pre-pandemic levels in 2023, says Eurostat

In absolute numbers, the biggest increase in nights spent was observed in Germany (+32.8 million nights) and Spain (+32.3 million nights).

In 2023, EU tourism continued to show signs of rebounding from the COVID-19 pandemic. The estimated number of nights spent at tourist accommodation establishments in 2023 reached 2.92 billion, exceeding the pre-pandemic level for 2019 (2.87 billion) by 1.6% and setting a record year for the EU accommodation sector.

In 2023, 171 million more nights were spent compared with 2022 (+6.3%), mainly driven by an increase in nights spent by international guests (+146 million) and to a lesser extent by an increase in nights spent by domestic guests (+25 million). Tourism levels (in terms of nights spent) were 25% higher than ten years earlier (2013: 2.33 billion nights spent).

This information comes from early estimates on tourism published by Eurostat (based on monthly January-October or November 2023 data, depending on each respective country).

Compared with 2022, nearly all EU members recorded an increase in 2023, only Luxembourg recorded a small decrease (-0.1%). In Malta and Cyprus, the growth exceeded 20% and in 8 other EU members, it exceeded 10% (Slovakia, Latvia, Bulgaria, Austria, Czechia, Portugal, Romania and Greece).

International and domestic tourism

Following 3 years with a significantly lower share of international tourists (respectively 29%, 32%, and 44% of all nights spent in 2020, 2021, and 2022), foreigners accounted for 46% of the 2.87 billion nights spent in 2023. This shows a near-return to the pre-pandemic contribution of international tourists (47%). However, in terms of volume, international tourism was still catching up (-0,4% compared with 2019.

In terms of accommodation, hotels and similar accommodation were the dominant segment with 1.8 billion nights spent (63% of the total), followed by holiday and other short-stay accommodation (24%). Campsites accounted for 13% of the total.

Theodore Koumelis

Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.

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• Theodore Koumelis https://www.traveldailynews.com/author/theodore-koumelis/ The contribution of tourism to the Greek economy, 2019-2023

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7 Underrated European Countries Saw Tourism Soar in 2023

Dawit Habtemariam , Skift

January 17th, 2024 at 10:21 AM EST

2023 was a solid year of growth for tourism to Europe. It's finally bouncing back from the pandemic.

Dawit Habtemariam

Cyprus, Malta, Albania, and other underrated destinations had some of the highest tourism growth rates in Europe last year, according to Eurostat’s latest data . 

Europe saw over 2.6 billion tourist night stays at hotels and alternative accommodations between January and October. International tourism was a component of that, rising 12.5%.

Below are the destinations with the highest growth rates in the first 10 months of 2023.

Europe’s Strong Year in Tourism

Eurostat estimates tourists spent a record 2.9 billion nights at hotels and alternative accommodations in 2023. That was 1.6% higher than 2.87 billion nights in 2019.

The UN World Tourism Organization has cited American demand as a contributing factor to Europe’s post-pandemic tourism recovery. Last year, Americans traveled to Europe in droves so much that U.S. domestic tourism growth started to level off .

“I was in Rome, Venice, Dubrovnik, sure as heck felt like 2019,” said Intrepid Travel CEO James Thornton at the Skift Global Forum in September.

Hidden Gems Win Tourists

To escape Europe’s busiest destinations, some tour operators are expanding their trips to lesser-known destinations like Albania and Montenegro, both of which saw some of the strongest tourism growth rates.

“We think Montenegro is exciting. We think Albania is a very interesting place at the moment where people can have great experiences, get a bit off the beaten track, see a new way of life and get that dispersion away from those peak sites,” said Thornton.

Cyprus has also benefited even though Russian tourists have moved on.

Albania Isn’t A Hidden Gem Anymore, Its Short-Term Rental Market is Proof

The U.S. market might be seeing a pullback, but Europe continues to lure budget-conscious travelers to under-explored destinations with a booming hospitality sector.

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Tags: europe , tourism

The Sofia Globe

Bulgaria’s independent English-language news and features website.

Eurostat: EU tourism industry eclipsed pre-pandemic levels in 2023

In 2023, European Union tourism continued to show signs of rebounding from the Covid-19 pandemic, EU statistics agency Eurostat said on January 16.

The estimated number of  nights spent  at  tourist accommodation establishments  in 2023 reached 2.92 billion, exceeding the pre-pandemic level for 2019 (2.87 billion) by 1.6 per cent and setting a record year for the EU accommodation sector.

In 2023, 171 million more nights were spent compared with 2022 (+6.3 per cent), mainly driven by an increase in nights spent by international guests (+146 million) and to a lesser extent by an increase in nights spent by domestic guests (+25 million).

Tourism levels (in terms of nights spent) were 25 per cent higher than 10 years earlier (2013: 2.33 billion nights spent).

This information comes from early estimates on tourism published by Eurostat on January 16 (based on monthly January-October or November 2023 data, depending on each respective country).

Compared with 2022, nearly all EU members recorded an increase in 2023, only Luxembourg recorded a small decrease (-0.1 per cent).

In Malta and Cyprus, the growth exceeded 20 per cent and in 8 other EU members, it exceeded 10 per cent (Slovakia, Latvia, Bulgaria, Austria, Czechia, Portugal, Romania and Greece).

In absolute numbers, the biggest increase in nights spent was observed in Germany (+32.8 million nights) and Spain (+32.3 million nights).

Following three years with a significantly lower share of  international tourists  (respectively 29 per cent, 32 per cent, and 44 per cent of all nights spent in 2020, 2021, and 2022), foreigners accounted for 46 per cent of the 2.87 billion nights spent in 2023.

This shows a near-return to the pre-pandemic contribution of international tourists (47 per cent), Eurostat said.

However, in terms of volume, international tourism was still catching up (-0,4 per cent compared with 2019).  

In terms of accommodation, hotels and similar accommodation were the dominant segment with 1.8 billion nights spent (63 per cent of the total), followed by holiday and other short-stay accommodation (24 per cent). Campsites accounted for 13 per cent of the total, the statistics agency said.

( Photo: Lance Nelson of Bansko App )

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Eurostat: Tourism sees annual growth of more than 20% in 2023

15:25 - 16 January 2024

Tourism in Cyprus increased by more than 20% in 2023 compared to 2022, the second largest growth in the EU, as tourism rebounds across Europe after the COVID-19 pandemic, according to early estimates published by Eurostat based on the data that is so far available for 2023.

Compared with 2022, nearly all EU members recorded an increase in 2023, with Luxembourg being the only member state that recorded a small decrease (-0.1%).

In Malta and Cyprus, the growth exceeded 20% and in 8 other EU members, it exceeded 10% (Slovakia, Latvia, Bulgaria, Austria, Czechia, Portugal, Romania, and Greece).

In absolute numbers, the biggest increase in nights spent was observed in Germany (+32.8 million nights) and Spain (+32.3 million nights).

EU tourism continued to show signs of rebounding from the COVID-19 pandemic in 2023. The estimated number of nights spent at tourist accommodation establishments in 2023 reached 2.92 billion, exceeding the pre-pandemic level for 2019 (2.87 billion) by 1.6% and setting a record year for the EU accommodation sector.

In 2023, 171 million more nights were spent compared with 2022 (+6.3%), mainly driven by an increase in nights spent by international guests (+146 million) and to a lesser extent by an increase in nights spent by domestic guests (+25 million). Tourism levels (in terms of nights spent) were 25% higher than ten years earlier (2013: 2.33 billion nights spent).

Also, following three years with a significantly lower share of international tourists (respectively 29%, 32%, and 44% of all nights spent in 2020, 2021, and 2022), foreigners accounted for 46% of the 2.87 billion nights spent in 2023. This shows a near-return to the pre-pandemic contribution of international tourists (47%). However, in terms of volume, international tourism was still catching up (-0,4% compared with 2019.  

In terms of accommodation, hotels and similar accommodation were the dominant segment with 1.8 billion nights spent (63% of the total), followed by holiday and other short-stay accommodation (24%). Campsites accounted for 13% of the total.

(Source: CNA)

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Amsterdam was flooded with tourists in 2023, so it won't allow any more hotels

Ayana Archie

Tens of thousands of people watched as dozens of colorfully decorated boats toured the Dutch capital's historic canals Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023, in the most popular event of a six-day Pride Amsterdam festival that attracts tens of thousands of visitors to the city. Peter Dejong/AP hide caption

Tens of thousands of people watched as dozens of colorfully decorated boats toured the Dutch capital's historic canals Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023, in the most popular event of a six-day Pride Amsterdam festival that attracts tens of thousands of visitors to the city.

Amsterdam's local government is cracking down on local over-tourism by putting a ban on new hotels, it said Wednesday .

New hotels can only be built if another closes down, and the city is urging developers to choose a site outside of the city center.

If a new hotel is built in place of an old one, it must be more modern or more sustainable. Twenty-six hotels that have already been issued permits will not be affected by the ban, the city said.

In Amsterdam, even the tourists say there are too many tourists

The move was triggered by Amsterdam's "Tourism in balance" policy, which was created in 2021 after a public initiative in which 30,000 residents called for more control of the tourism industry.

Under "tourism in balance," aims to limit overnight stays in hotels by tourists to 20 million a year. In 2023 tourists spent about 20.7 million nights in Amsterdam, a number that doesn't include vacation rentals, bed and breakfast stays or cruise trips. That means "the municipal executive is obliged to take action," the city says.

Amsterdam also has been attempting to curb other behaviors by tourists, including banning cannabis smoking in certain parts of the city , closing some clubs and bars earlier, placing new limits on canal cruises and converting some hotels into homes or offices.

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Moscow city tourism committee organizes conference for indian mice market stakeholders.

New Delhi [India], April 24 (ANI): Recognising market demand, the Moscow City Tourism Committee organized a conference for representatives of the Indian MICE industry, to introduce them to the tourism strengths of the Russian capital.

MICE stands for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions, and is a type of tourism in which large groups, usually plan things well in advance.

The event took place on April 19 in Delhi and brought together over 100 participants from MICE agencies of both countries, corporate customers, representatives of the travel industry in Moscow, Aeroflot and the Indian branches of Sberbank.

Business tourism is one of the most promising directions for Moscow.

In 2023, the capital was visited by 3.7 million business tourists - 7 per cent more than in 2022. And India remains one of the leaders among visitors from non-CIS countries in terms of the number of business travellers.

"The Russian capital as a centre of business tourism and corporate events is already an established and a strong brand in the international arena," commented Anastasia Popova, Deputy General Director for International and Industry Cooperation of Project Office for the Development of Tourism and Hospitality in Moscow.

"Now our task is to demonstrate to our Indian partners all the possibilities of organizing high-value MICE events in Moscow in combination with already proven tourist programs," said Popova.

At the Shaping MICE Future Conference, industry experts from Russia and India pronounced statements and speeches on the future of MICE events in these two countries, a presentation of the MICE potential of Moscow was showcased, and an analytical report on the state of the outbound MICE market in India was presented to the visitors.

During the panel discussion, participants assessed the current status and interaction peculiarities with the MICE market in India and developed recommendations for the MICE industry in Moscow during the general brainstorming session.

Representatives of the Indian MICE industry participated in B2B negotiations to find new cross-partners in the Moscow business environment and among representatives of the hospitality industry.

Representatives of the MICE industry took part in the event from Moscow.

Among them were DMC (Grand Rus, Academservice, Headed Goose, Satguru Travel, Isba Rus, Hug the Bear, Mellenium Group) as well as representatives of other partners interested in the development of MICE cooperation between Russia and India: Global transfers provider i'way and hotels Edge Seligerskaya and Edge Vinogradovo Moscow by Rotana.

"In 2024, we have witnessed a significant surge (more than quadruple) in the demand for transfers by Russians visiting India, both for business and leisure purposes. Muscovites are leading the trend, with 80 per cent of transfer bookings originating from the capital since the beginning of the year. Additionally, we observe a growing interest from Indian tourism agencies in exploring Russia, resulting in a substantial increase in our collaboration," commented Dmitriy Saraykin, co-founder of Global Transfer Provider i'way.

The Shaping MICE Future conference allowed the Moscow City Tourism Committee to form a pool of MICE industry representatives in Moscow to prioritize incoming requests for events and clarify India's requirements for business and corporate events to build mutually effective work. Indian colleagues received up-to-date information about Moscow as a safe and attractive MICE destination and were able to find potential partners among representatives of the MICE industry of the Russian capital and were able to present the MICE market in India.

"The event served as a remarkable platform for fostering meaningful dialogue and collaboration within the tourism industry. The event provided us with invaluable opportunities to engage with key stakeholders from the tourism department, as well as tour operators and service providers. The insights gained during the event underscored the Moscow City Tourism Committee's keen interest in the Indian outbound market, and we are optimistic about the promising prospects for Moscow as a destination, particularly in the post-pandemic landscape. We firmly believe that with concerted efforts and strategic initiatives, Moscow has the potential to emerge as a top-choice destination for Indian tourists," said Mudit Mathur, director of Tours Delite India, representing Academ Service - Russia in India.

The conference also assessed the solutions to foreign demand for non-standard venues and elements in MICE programs, such as museums, parks, theaters and others. Holding MICE events at offbeat locations, such as the State Historical Museum, the Moscow Planetarium and Khudozhestvenny Cinema, is becoming popular.

ANI 25th April 2024, 03:27 GMT+10

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Indians among top visitors to moscow from non-cis states.

Moscow sees a rise in business tourism, with 3.7 million visitors in 2023, including 60,000 Indians. A conference in Delhi aimed to strengthen ties between Indian and Moscow's MICE industries, highlighting Moscow's potential for corporate events. The event also discussed collaboration opportunities and innovative MICE venues.

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Tourism Web Portal

About the portal.

A technological tool for effective communication between the leading players in the Moscow tourism market and representatives of the foreign/regional tourism industry through online events. OBJECTIVES: • Building long-term cooperation with foreign/regional representatives • Raising awareness among foreign/regional representatives of the tourism industry of the tourism opportunities, measures and attractiveness of the city of Moscow in the field of tourist infrastructure development

Moscow City Tourism Committee

The Tourism Committee, or Mostourism, is the executive body of the Moscow City Government that oversees tourist activities in the capital. The Committee is responsible for legislative initiatives, congress and exhibition activities, and event and image projects. As the brand manager for an attractive tourism image for Moscow, Mostourism constantly analyses global trends, offers Russian and foreign tourists what they want, and also uncovers new opportunities for the capital in terms of interesting and rewarding leisure activities.

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Tourism deputy rings up N.B. government's largest 2023 expense account

Moving costs and an $800-a-night hotel help push yennah hurley's expenses over $77,000.

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Luxury-hotel stays during an unpublicized trip to London and Paris and a personal move from Quispamsis to Fredericton helped deputy tourism minister Yennah Hurley, the former adviser to Premier Blaine Higgs, amass $77,710 in expenses in 2023.   

It's the largest amount claimed by a senior official in the New Brunswick government for the year, including the premier and cabinet ministers, according to online departmental expense reports.

New Brunswick releases information on expenses paid to ministers and senior government officials quarterly for travel, living expenses, car allowances, accommodations and other costs.  

It calls it an "effort to improve transparency, accountability and enhance the proactive disclosure of information."

In 2023, the largest amount claimed by an elected official for the calendar year was $52,522 by Higgs. That included $10,999 spent on a trip to Europe last May highlighted by Higgs's speech at the World Hydrogen Summit in the Netherlands.

Charges by the premier, however, were eclipsed by Hurley, whose expense claims ran nearly 50 per cent higher.

Hurley is a former small adventure business operator and travel blogger who has been New Brunswick's deputy minister of tourism since 2020.

She was hired in 2019 on a two-year consulting contract by Higgs to work in the Tourism Department and report directly to him on changes that might be made.

One change that came quickly was the firing of the previous deputy minister, Francoise Roy, a month after Hurley began work. Ten months later, Hurley had Roy's old job 

"I am proud that she is working with the people in the department," Higgs said in the legislature in 2019 in defending Hurley's initial hiring.

"I am proud that she is working with the minister because we are going to get things done by thinking differently. I am proud that she is part of the team."

In 2023, reports show, Hurley took several trips on government business both inside and outside Canada.

Expense reports contain little information on the purpose of trips, and Hurley was not made available for an interview.  However, her reports show $21,488 was spent on hotels in multiple locations, including Banff, Quebec City and North Carolina.

According to information provided by the province, the most expensive trip, an eight-day visit to Europe last September was an effort to boost international tourism interest in New Brunswick.

It was also said to be for gathering information on tourism sites of significance that are recognized by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization.

"The purpose of the mission was to discuss opportunities with international tour operators for visits to New Brunswick," Bruce Macfarlane, New Brunswick's senior director for media relations, wrote in response to a request for information about the trip.

"The mission also included site visits and meetings with UNESCO properties and museums with four nights in London and a four-night stay in Paris."

Four Tourism Department representatives went to Europe, according to Macfarlane, including Hurley and the minister, Tammy Scott-Wallace.

The group stayed at the Trafalgar St. James, a London hotel, before eventually moving to Hotel Lumen in Paris.

According to prices advertised online and expense reports submitted by both Scott-Wallace and Hurley, the hotels charge about $800 and $600 per night, respectively.

Hurley's expenses also included receipts for visits to Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, an unspecified British museum, the London Eye, and the Palace of Versailles.  

There appeared to be no specific charges for business meetings during the eight days by either the minister or deputy minister. Hurley's expenses eventually totalled $12,328 with Scott-Wallace charging $10,199.

Isabelle Theriault, the deputy Liberal leader and opposition tourism critic, said she is surprised to hear about the trip.  

By coincidence last September, the Tourism Department was in front of the legislature's public accounts committee two weeks after Hurley returned from Paris, and Theriault questioned her about departmental efforts being made to promote New Brunswick in Europe.   

The trip was never mentioned.

"If I had known I would have asked questions about it," said Theriault.

"If they just came back from those regions in Europe why didn't they tell me, 'We went there to work on how to attract people from those regions.' But they chose not to tell."

Hurley's largest expense in 2023 was not travel-related. After her return from Europe, she sold her house in Quispamsis and moved to Fredericton, ending four years of commuting.

• Hand-picked Higgs officials living outside Fredericton cost taxpayers extra
• Taxpayers foot bill for 2nd residence in Fredericton for deputy tourism minister
• Blaine Higgs hire unaware of social media ban on politically partisan posts

That move cost taxpayers a further $19,321.17 in relocation costs.  

Those included $15,000 for the real estate commission paid on the house Hurley sold, $3,550.67 for movers and $770.50 in legal fees.

According to the New Brunswick government's relocation policy, moving expenses for an existing employee are allowed at the discretion of a departmental deputy minister "if" the employee "is transferred."

Hurley was not transferred to a new job, and she did not take a loss on the sale of her home, which sometimes adds to relocation costs.

Real estate records show the house sold last October for $405,000, well above the listed asking price of $324,900.

Nevertheless, Macfarlane said it was determined Hurley did in fact qualify to have moving expenses covered and emphasized she did not approve her own claim. He declined to say who did.

"As outlined in the relocation policy, in no case can the Deputy Head authorize their own relocation expenses," wrote Macfarlane.

"Another designate approved the relocation expenses within the policy directive. Although we cannot talk about specific cases, the relocation expenses fell within the policy."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Robert Jones has been a reporter and producer with CBC New Brunswick since 1990. His investigative reports on petroleum pricing in New Brunswick won several regional and national awards and led to the adoption of price regulation in 2006.

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Moscow City Tourism Committee holds meet on MICE

Conference on MICE held in Delhi

With over 3.7 million business visitors in 2023, business tourism is one of the most promising segments of tourism for Russian capital, Moscow, with India remaining as one of the top source markets outside of the CIS zone.

In order to tap this immense potential, the Moscow City Tourism Committee organised the ‘Shaping MICE Future Conference’ for representatives of the Indian MICE industry, to introduce them to the tourism strengths of the Russian capital. 

In a press statement, the tourism organisation says that the conference was organised in New Delhi recently and brought together over 100 participants from MICE agencies of both countries, corporate customers, representatives of the travel industry in Moscow, Aeroflot and the Indian branches of Sberbank.

Anastasia Popova

‘‘The Russian capital as a centre of business tourism and corporate events is already an established and a strong brand in the international arena. Now our task is to demonstrate to our Indian partners all the possibilities of organising high value MICE events in Moscow in combination with already proven tourist programmes,’’ says Anastasia Popova, Deputy General Director for International and Industry Cooperation of Project Office for the Development of Tourism and Hospitality in Moscow.

  The statement adds that at the Shaping MICE Future Conference industry experts from Russia and India shared their insights on the future of MICE events in these two countries, a presentation of the MICE potential of Moscow was showcased, and an analytical report on the state of the outbound MICE market in India was presented to the visitors. 

The statement adds that during the panel discussion participants assessed the current status and interaction peculiarities with the MICE market in India, and developed recommendations for the MICE industry in Moscow during the general brainstorming session. Representatives of the Indian MICE industry participated in B2B negotiations to find new cross-partners in the Moscow business environment and among representatives of the hospitality industry.  

Representatives of the MICE industry took part in the event from Moscow . Among them were various DMCs like Grand Rus, Academservice, Headed Goose, Satguru Travel, Isba Rus, Hug the Bear, Mellenium Group, as well as representatives of other partners interested in the development of MICE cooperation between Russia and India.

Dmitriy Saraykin

‘‘In 2024, we have witnessed a significant surge of more than quadruple growth in the demand for transfers by Russians visiting India, both for business and leisure purposes. Muscovites are leading the trend, with 80% of transfer bookings originating from the capital since the beginning of the year. Additionally, we observe a growing interest from Indian tourism agencies in exploring Russia, resulting in a substantial increase in our collaboration,’’ says Dmitriy Saraykin, co-founder of i’way, a transfer provider. 

The oragnisers say that the MICE conference allowed Moscow City Tourism Committee to form a pool of MICE industry representatives in Moscow to prioritise incoming requests for events, clarify India’s requirements for business and corporate events to build mutually effective work. Indian colleagues received up-to-date information about Moscow as a safe and attractive MICE destination, and were able to find potential partners among representatives of the MICE industry of the Russian capital and were able to present the MICE market in India.

Mudit Mathur

‘‘The event served as a remarkable platform for fostering meaningful dialogue and collaboration within the tourism industry. The event provided us with invaluable opportunities to engage with key stakeholders from the tourism department, as well as tour operators and service providers. The insights gained during the event underscored the Moscow City Tourism Committee’s keen interest in the Indian outbound market, and we are optimistic about the promising prospects for Moscow as a destination, particularly in the post-pandemic landscape. We firmly believe that with concerted efforts and strategic initiatives, Moscow has the potential to emerge as a top-choice destination for Indian tourists,’’ says Mudit Mathur, director of Tours Delite India.

  The conference also assessed the solutions to foreign demand for non-standard venues and elements in MICE programmes, such as museums, parks, theaters and others. Holding MICE events at offbeat locations, such as the State Historical Museum, the Moscow Planetarium and Khudozhestvenny Cinema, is becoming popular. This helps to attract conference organisers and creates a unique experience for the participants. Working in this format, many visitors who came to Moscow on a business trip want to return with their families and spend time as regular tourists.

  In 2023, 60,000 Indian tourists visited Moscow , a quarter more than a year earlier. This year, according to the results of January and February India entered the top five countries in terms of the volume of e-visas issued. E-visa was one of the significant factors in the recovery of demand for hotel services and high utilization, of 76 pc of Moscow hotels in 2023 and, as a consequence, the growth of international tourist traffic, the activation of business and classical tourists from India, China, Iran, Turkey and Saudi Arabia.

The statement adds that one of the significant initiatives launched to support the growth of the tourist flow is the Moscow MICE Ambassadors Programme, an online certification programme for representatives of the Indian market, which aims to create demand for Moscow as a MICE destination. The Moscow City Tourism Committee and NIMA (Network of Indian MICE Agents) jointly launched the pilot project last year. The first 50 people from the Indian side who underwent the training and learned the intricacies of organizing business events in the Russian capital have received the relevant certificates. In 2024, the programme will be made available to other MICE operators as well and is expected to expand to a total of 200 Moscow MICE Ambassadors by the end of the year .

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2024 Kentucky Derby is near, bringing influx of travelers after record tourism year in 2023

Louisville and surrounding communities have been pretty lively since Thunder Over Louisville , with the 2024 Kentucky Derby just days away.

The 150th event, slated for May 4, might seem like any other Derby celebration, but something is in the air for this anniversary festivity. According to a news release from Airbnb, searches for Airbnb listings near Louisville during Derby week have skyrocketed since 2023.

2024 Kentucky Derby: When is the Kentucky Derby? Everything to know ahead of the Run for the Roses in 2024

2024 Kentucky Derby, travelers increasingly looking for rentals, listings

According to the news release, searches on Airbnb rentals in Louisville and neighboring communities during Derby week for 2024, April 28 to May 4, have risen over 30% since 2023 (April 30 to May 6).

In 2023, over 7,000 guests were welcomed by Airbnb hosts during the week leading up to race day. The average guest spent approximately $220 per day, with over 40% of total daily spending in the neighborhood of the Airbnb listing.

150th Kentucky Derby: Where are travelers coming from?

According to the Airbnb news release, the top cities where travelers are making reservations for Derby week in 2024 are:

• Indianapolis
• New York City

2024 Kentucky Derby: Louisville area neighborhoods to stay at

Some of the most popular Louisville area neighborhoods people stay in for Derby include:

• Jeffersonville, Indiana 
• West Buechel, Kentucky 
• St. Matthews, Kentucky 
• Bardstown, Kentucky 
• Madison, Indiana
• Shively, Kentucky
• Louisville, Indiana
• Madison, Kentucky

150th Kentucky Derby: Influx of travelers to Louisville Airport anticipated

According to the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, Airbnb isn't the only one seeing a large increase in numbers surrounding Derby. Over 34,000 seats are expected to arrive to the airport between Wednesday, May 1, and Friday, May 3.

On the busiest day, Thursday, May 2, over 15,000 seats on 116 flights will arrive. May 3 will have over 10,000 seats on 86 flights arriving, and May 1 will see over 8,500 across 74 flights.

"Departure Sunday," on May 5, is the most popular time for departures after Derby, and the busiest day of the year at Louisville's airport. Around 17,000 seats on over 120 flights will depart throughout the day, with over 10,000 departure seats scheduled on Monday, May 6.

Dan Mann, Executive Director of the Louisville Regional Airport Authority, said 2024 could potentially be a record year. “This year’s Derby schedules from the airlines are very robust thanks to even more flights to destinations we currently serve as well as those routes added for this event only. Our team has been in constant communications with the airlines about the significant increases we can expect for the 150 th  anniversary and plans are in place for what we believe could be a record year for SDF.”

150 Kentucky Derby follows 2023 record tourism in Louisville

As previously reported by The Courier Journal, the 150th Kentucky Derby follows a record-breaking year for tourism in 2023. Last year, over 250,000 people visited the Kentucky Derby Museum at Churchill Downs, and it was the busiest year on record at the airport with over 4.6 million passengers traveling through.

Louder Than Life also saw a record-breaking number of festival-goers, and the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory saw a new record for single-day attendance.

2024 Tourism in Louisville

2024 marks a big year for tourism in the Louisville area. As previously reported by The Courier Journal , the 150th Kentucky Derby and Oaks is expected to bring in 256,000 guests and over $405 million in economic impact, making it the largest tourism event of the year.

Following closely is the PGA Championship , anticipated to bring in 200,000 visitors and about $78.5 million in economic impact. Bourbon & Beyond and Louder Than Life tend to be fairly popular as well.

New to the city this year, which could impact tourist numbers, include Jack Harlow's Gazebo Festival and Bourbon and Belonging, Kentucky's queer bourbon week.

Sports ETA releases its 2023 “State of the Industry” Report for the $128 Billion Sport Tourism Industry

PORTLAND, Ore., April 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Sports ETA, the trade association for the sports events and tourism industry, released its highly anticipated annual State of the Industry Report for 2023 today. The report underscores the strength of the sports tourism sector, showcasing a direct spending impact of $52.2 billion, which generated a total economic impact of $128 billion. This monumental contribution supported 757,600 full-time and part-time jobs and contributed $20.1 billion in taxes to various sectors of the economy.

The association’s last benchmark report, “Sports Tourism: State of the Industry Report 2022” in America presented by the Sports Events and Tourism Association in partnership with the Northstar Meetings Group” was released in 2022 to benchmark 2021, and concluded that U.S. sports-related travelers, event organizers, and venues spent a total of $91.8 billion.

The study was conducted by Tourism Economics, with support from Northstar Meetings Group, the leading multi-platform brand for dedicated meeting and business planners and sports event organizers, and the presenting sponsor of the association’s “Annual State of the Industry” research report.

The analysis draws on the following data sources to quantify sports tourism, which includes adult and youth amateur events and collegiate tournaments (the economic impact analyses conducted within the report exclude professional sports and collegiate regular season games):

• Sports ETA: destination membership survey data
• Longwoods International: traveler survey data, including spending and visitor profile characteristics for sports tourism nationwide
• Bureau of Economic Analysis and Bureau of Labor Statistics: employment and wage data, by industry
• Bureau of Transportation Statistics: U.S. domestic average itinerary fares
• U.S. Travel Association: domestic travel data
• STR: lodging data
• Sports attendance data

“The sport tourism industry continued to grow in 2023, increasing by 7% over sports traveler volume in 2022,” said John David , President & CEO of Sports ETA. “The number of sports travelers in America established a new high-water mark of 204.9 million in 2023.”

Key Highlights from the 2023 Sports ETA State of the Industry Report include:

• $13.5 billion on transportation
• $10.9 billion on lodging
• $9.7 billion on food and beverages

Recreation, retail, and tournament operations rounded out spending, registering $6.9 billion, $6.5 billion, and $4.7 billion, respectively.

The lodging sector accounted for 21% of all sports-related travel spending. In 2023, sports-related travel generated 73.5 million room nights, which is an important factor given that hotel taxes are a primary funding source for many entities.

Top 10 States for Most Economic Impact by Sports Tourism Unveiled

For the first time ever, the Sports ETA State of the Industry Report has identified the Top 10 list of states in terms of the economic impact generated by sports tourism in 2023. Data provided by sports tourism industry stakeholders and economic data were utilized in the ranking analysis. Sports tourism marketing funds and other initiatives, such as bid fees and local grants, also influence how states perform. They are:

• Pennsylvania

“Each state played an integral role in sports tourism in 2023,” said David. “The addition of the Top 10 list of states generating economic impact with sports tourism allows us to analyze best practices for all of our members.”

It should be noted that some states naturally generate a larger share of the impact given the size (population and land mass), seasonality, location within the U.S. and destination infrastructure (i.e., airports, sports venues, and hotel supply).

About Sports ETA:

As the only trade association for the sports events and tourism industry, Sports ETA is the most trusted resource for sports commissions, destination marketing organizations (DMOs), and sports event owners. Sports ETA is committed to the success of more than 850 member organizations and 2,400 sports event professionals. We promise to deliver quality education, ample networking opportunities, and exceptional event management and marketing know-how to our members to protect the integrity of the sports events and tourism industry.  For more information, visit SportsETA.org.

Contact: Jackie Reau, Game Day

(513) 708-5822 | [email protected]

World merchandise trade rebound, and other global trade stories to read this month

The volume of global merchandise trade is projected to grow 2.6% this year. Image:  Bernd Dittrich/Unsplash

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• This monthly roundup brings you a selection of the latest news and updates on global trade.
• Top international trade stories: Global trade expected to rebound in 2024; EU-US trade meeting takes place; Luxury good exports surpass agriculture in France.

1. Promising rebound in global trade expected for 2024

Global trade will rebound in 2024, with a projected 2.6% growth in the volume of merchandise trade this year and an even more robust 3.3% in 2025, economists predict.

World commercial services trade grew 9% in 2023, according to the Global Trade Outlook and Statistics report, published by the World Trade Organization (WTO). This was largely a result of recovering international travel and the booming demand for digitally delivered services, it said.

Another significant factor behind trade growth is the amount of sporting events to be held in Europe in the summer, the report noted. The easing of visa requirements by various countries and the boost in tourism and passenger transport services sectors are said to be playing a part in this uplift.

However, risks to the forecast include geopolitical tensions, policy uncertainty and a rise in protectionism, the WTO said.

2. EU-US trade meeting focuses on technology and semiconductor supply chains

The EU-US Trade and Technology Council (TTC) held its 6th meeting in Belgium , with officials including US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis in attendance.

Established in 2021 as a platform for cooperation between the EU and US, the TTC aims to grow bilateral trade, avoid trade barriers and coordinate on technology and supply chain issues.

New partnerships on AI and 6G networks were announced at the meeting, along with plans for increased cooperation on semiconductor supply chains , according to a joint statement. This included measures to address concerns about unfair trade practices.

The TTC is also tasked with accelerating the transition to climate-neutral economies, though progress on sustainable trade initiatives has been limited.

While it has few major policy achievements, the TCC is seen as an important vehicle to collaborate between these trade partners. The US accounted for almost one-fifth of EU exports in 2023, and imported 13.7% of goods into the EU in the same year, according to Eurostat , making it the bloc’s second-largest importer.

Looking ahead, a change in US leadership could result in new tariffs or trade restrictions, which will be a key consideration for the TTC. The Council says it aims to shape dialogue and promote greater EU-US cooperation on technology, supply chains and sustainable trade, as both sides prepare for upcoming elections.

The Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation is a collaboration of international organisations, governments and businesses led by the Center for International Private Enterprise , the International Chamber of Commerce and the World Economic Forum , in cooperation with Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit .

It aims to help governments in developing and least developed countries implement the World Trade Organization’s Trade Facilitation Agreement by bringing together governments and businesses to identify opportunities to address delays and unnecessary red-tape at borders.

For example, in Colombia, the Alliance worked with the National Food and Drug Surveillance Institute and business to introduce a risk management system that can facilitate trade while protecting public health, cutting the average rate of physical inspections of food and beverages by 30% and delivering $8.8 million in savings for importers in the first 18 months of operation.

3. News in brief: Trade stories from around the world

Global sales of handbags and perfumes by Paris-based luxury goods manufacturer LVMH now account for a larger share of France’s exports than all of the Camembert and wine produced by the country’s agricultural sector. The manufacturer was responsible for 4% of French exports in 2023, according to a study by consultancy Asterès for LVMH , as reported by the FT .

European ports are increasingly filling up with imported vehicles as automotive manufacturers and distributors struggle with a combination of a slowdown in sales and logistical bottlenecks due to a lack of available lorry drivers, the Financial Times reports. They have been referred to as “car parks” , with some port operators asking importers to provide proof of onward transport to prevent the situation continuing.

Work to clear the wreckage of the Baltimore bridge collapse from a cargo ship that crashed into it and gain back access to Baltimore Port’s shipping channel continues. Replacing the bridge itself is expected to take years. Meanwhile, the FBI has opened a criminal inquiry , as the body of a fourth victim was recovered.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has signed economic partnership agreements with both Colombia and Costa Rica, Reuters reports. Speaking about the agreement with Colombia , UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan said he anticipated "a new era of cooperation and mutual economic growth”. It is expected to help enhance bilateral trade flows by cutting tariffs, removing trade barriers and boosting investments in sectors including energy, tourism and infrastructure.

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