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Eurostat article: Role of tourism in the EU's economy

Data

14 November 2024

Eurostat article: Role of tourism in the EU's economy

Adventure tourism

Coastal, maritime and inland water tourism

Cultural tourism

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Tourism indicators reveal that in 2021, the tourism sector in the EU comprised nearly one in ten enterprises, employed 11.3 million people, and contributed significantly to the economy.

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Eurostat

Topics
Geographical descriptors

Albania

Austria

Belgium

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bulgaria

Croatia

Cyprus

Czechia

Denmark

Estonia

EU-27

Finland

France

Germany

Greece

Hungary

Ireland

Italy

Latvia

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Malta

Netherlands

Norway

Poland

Portugal

Romania

Serbia

Slovakia

Slovenia

Spain

Sweden

Switzerland

Organisation Type

Academic / Research and VET Institutions

Company with 250 or more employees

Consumer Organisations

Cultural and Heritage Organisations

Destination Management & Marketing Organisations

EU Institutions

Financial Institutions and Investors

Industry Associations and Chambers of Commerce

International Organisations

Local Authorities

Media / Journalist Organisations

National authorities

Networks and Federations / Confederations

NGOs / Non-profits

Regional Authorities

SMEs (a company with less than 250 employees)

Trade Unions

  • Specific types of tourism

    • Adventure tourism

    • Coastal, maritime and inland water tourism

    • Cultural tourism

    • Ecotourism

    • Education tourism

    • Festival tourism

    • Gastronomy tourism

    • Health and medical tourism

    • MICE tourism

    • Mountain tourism

    • Religious tourism

    • Rural tourism

    • Sports tourism

    • Urban/city tourism

    • Wellness tourism

  • Transition Pathway Strategic Areas

    • Coordinated information on travelling

    • Improving statistics and indicators

    • Innovative tourism services

  • Business activities

    • Activities of amusement parks and theme parks

    • Activities of associations and other organisations supporting tourism

    • Air passenger transport

    • Camping grounds, recreational vehicle parks and trailer parks

    • Events catering and other food services

    • Festivals, cultural and entertainment activities

    • Gardens and nature reserves activities

    • Holiday Housing / Apartments and other short stay accommodation

    • Hotel and similar accommodation

    • Mobile beverage services

    • Mobile food services

    • Museums

    • Operation of historical sites

    • Other

    • Other accommodation

    • Other amusement and recreation activities

    • Other food and beverage services

    • Other holiday reservation services

    • Other tourism transportation activities

    • Rail Passenger transport

    • Recreational and sport activities

    • Restaurants, cafes and bars (Food and Beverage serving activities)

    • Road passenger transport

    • Tour operator activities

    • Travel agency activities

    • Water (sea, coastal and inland) passenger transport

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According to a Eurostat article published in April 2024, nearly 10.0% of enterprises in the EU's non-financial business economy were part of the tourism sector in 2021. This equates to approximately 2.4 million enterprises employing 11.3 million people, which is 8.6% of the total employment in the non-financial business economy. Additionally, three out of four tourism enterprises were involved in food and beverage services (60.0%) or accommodation activities (15.0%). For a detailed exploration of tourism's role in the EU's economy and labour market, and to access the article update in February 2025, please follow the link provided on the left-hand side of the platform.

#Tourism indicators

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