ECM: European Cities See Tourism Gains

Association’s 2018 report shows 7.4% average growth rate.

Tourism in European cities continues to grow, according to the latest figures from European Cities Marketing (ECM) that show an average growth rate of 7.4 percent from the last reporting period of 2016-2017.

The 14th edition of the benchmarking report from ECM — an association for European tourist boards, convention bureaux, and city marketing organisations — includes statistics from 126 European cities and offers a measure of the total number of hospitality bed nights over the course of a year in those cities.

The Top 4 cities in the 2016-’17 report — London, Paris, Berlin, and Rome — held their respective positions in the 2017-’18 report. Of those four cities, Paris experienced the most growth with a 9.3 percent increase in bed nights.

Among the Top 15 cities in the latest report, Amsterdam bed nights increased the most at 13.4 percent, although the city held steady in the No. 10 position. Istanbul was the biggest mover, jumping to No. 8 from No. 13 with an increase of 12.4 percent. Munich moved up two positions to No. 9 with an 11.7 percent increase. Lisbon remained at No. 15 on the list, but saw the fourth highest growth rate of 9.8 percent.

The report also found that international bed nights rose, growing 7.6 percent as a result of increases in Russia (up 26.7 percent), China (up 16.5 percent), and the United States (up 15.5 percent).

ECM reports twice a year on the state of the tourism industry. MODUL University Vienna produces the report, which can be ordered here.

Top 15 European Cities – Total Bednights 2017

*Refer to cities with different definitions and data rectifications.
Source: European Cities Marketing Benchmarking Report 2018