Travel Industry, News and Analytics

Top European Cities Hold Their Positions Despite COVID-19 Restrictions

City tourism has always been an important part of the European economy. For years, major EU cities benefited from the constant flow of travelers but the pandemic changed the usual lifestyle of the region. Without a doubt, 2020 was not the best year for European tourism as the entire industry was stagnant. The impact of COVID-19 is truly dreadful – according to the data provided by ECM Benchmarking Report 2020-2021, the average decline in the industry was 60.9% in 2020. A year earlier, European tourism posted a growth of 4.3%.

That being said, the top three European cities retained their positions last year. The leaders – London, Paris, and Berlin – still had the biggest number of bednights sold in 2020. Hotels in Stockholm and Hamburg posted much better results than hotels in other European cities. The hospitality industries of these two cities were the least affected by the pandemic, which caused Stockholm and Hamburg to improve their rankings significantly. Stockholm scored 6th in 2020 (13th in 2019), and Hamburg moved from the 12th rank to the 7th.

As expected, long-haul markets, which are traditionally very important for Europe, had the biggest decline due to travel restrictions. The flow of tourists from China decreased by 88.9%, from the United States – by 88.2%, and 84.8% fewer tourists from Japan visited Europe in 2020. While contemporary urban tourism was a big trend in 2019, the industry changed significantly last year. Both the ECM Report cities and the EU 28 nations posted declines in the number of international bednights by 77% and 57.8% accordingly.

Cities suffered more declines than the rest of the region (-68.5% and -32.6% respectively) in terms of total bednight volume. The growth of bed capacity was also negative in the cities mentioned in the ECM Report (-5.0%). The average bed occupancy reached only 21.3% in 2020. As a rule, warmer months attracted more travelers to Europe but last year the situation was quite different – winter was the busiest season with an average of 1.67 bednights per citizen.

As tourism has a great economic and social impact on the region, rebuilding tourism in Europe as soon as possible is a high political priority. The industry affects many families and communities, people who work not only in hospitality but also in transport, food, and retail industries. This means that recovering tourism will contribute to the recovery of the economy on many levels.

Individual City Guides

Olomouc travel guide

The capital of the Czech Republic is not the only place worth visiting in this beautiful country. There are many no less charming settlements that can amaze and enchant their guests. Without a doubt, Olomouc is one of these cities. This is a charming place, which has an area of only 103 square kilometers. Despite this, Olomouc is the sixth-largest city in the Czech Republic and home to a great number of ancient landmarks, many of which are true masterpieces of architecture. Experienced travelers … Read further

Cuisine of Isa Town

Isa Town is one of the youngest and most luxurious towns in Bahrain. Posh villas built by wealthy people from all over the country have already become a calling card of Isa Town. Fabulous shopping centers remain the main landmarks of the town. It would also be a mistake not to mention several gorgeous stadiums that are built here. Upon arrival, many tourists prefer to visit The Sultan Center first. This large shopping center is open in modern high-rise buildings. Inside, visitors will find … Read further

Traditions and festivals in Sousse

Special traditions and customs of local people never cease to amaze foreign visitors with its originality and uniqueness. Every year, thousands of tourists arrive to Sousse from all over the world; for many of them an acquaintance with cultural traditions of citizens becomes the most vibrant and exciting adventure. An integral part of the national culture is the music of Sufis. Melodious musical tunes have changed for hundreds of years; however, they continue to be an important national feature. … Read further

Velika Gorica cultural sights

The gorgeous city was founded yet in the 13th century, but first settlements appeared in this area yet during the Roman Empire times. Archaeological excavations never stop in the neighborhoods of Velika Gorica as scientists have found traces of ancient settlements there. The Turopolje Museum is one of the most notable landmarks of the city, and so all tourists are recommended visiting it. In the museum, visitors will find collections of historical and archaeological findings. During a tour in … Read further

Jeddah attractions and entertainment

Many travelers associate Jeddah primarily with colorful Oriental markets and rich choice of shopping centers. This is indeed a major trading city, but apart from interesting shops the city can offer its guests a rich variety of entertainment. Fans of beach rest will surely like the coast of Silver Sands as they will find truly excellent conditions for sports entertainment there. The beach is equipped with several sports fields. There are special play areas for children and rental offices where … Read further

Munich for families and kids

Coco Loco remains one of the most popular play centers in Munich, so it can be recommended for travelers with children. It’s a true paradise for kids who can easily spend a whole day jumping on trampolines, trying various slides, playing arcades and table games, and finding out more about popular adult professions. There is a big café in the center, so both adults and children won’t be left hungry. Kids will be definitely pleased with the special menu with popular meals and desserts. … Read further

Shopping in Batam Island

Batam Island, just like some other local islands, is a part of the free trade zone. Here you can find a great variety of goods by the world leading producers and for a very good price. Besides, if you want to buy inexpensive but qualitative clothes, then you can find it among the local producers, like Sofie, Ferry Sunarto, Kisoon Harto, Ali Charisma, Talisa House, Biyan, Ghea, Sebastian’s, Poppy Dharsono, Herman Nuary. But it’s better not to buy it without a fitting. The thing is that the … Read further

Extreme and fun in Costa Brava

Active Entertainment Related to the Sea. Costa Brava will delight you with various options for active leisure associated with the water element. Beautiful landscapes, diverse inhabitants of the underwater world, and even sunken ships will appear in front of you when you make a scuba dive to a depth of 12 meters in the Mediterranean Sea. You will find several dive clubs and equipment rentals on the coast. You can also go snorkeling or go on tour on a boat with a transparent bottom. There … Read further