A new survey commissioned by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and conducted by the Centraal Bureau for Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports that in 2018, tourists spent a record €87.5 billion in the Netherlands. When adjusted to price changes, this represents a 4.1% increase from 2017.
The report indicates an increase in tourism spending from both foreign and domestic tourists. Domestic tourism rose to €51.9 billion in 2018, a €2.7 billion increase from 2017, and foreign tourist spending increased from the previous year by €2.5 billion to a total of €32.5 billion.
According to CBS, “Dutch holidaymakers mainly spent more on food and beverages at hotels, restaurants and cafés, but they also spent more on items such as fuel, sports and leisure activities.” CBS attributes increased domestic spending within the local tourism industry to warmer weather which lasted longer than in 2017. The increase in spending from foreign tourists was attributed in part to a higher number of nights spent in the Netherlands. Additionally, CBS reports that more foreign travelers booked accommodations through a Dutch travel company, stipulating that “although many of them did not actually travel to the Netherlands, Dutch companies did benefit financially from these bookings.”
Last year’s increase in tourist income was also accompanied by an increase in employment. According to CBS, last year employment within the Dutch tourism industry rose by 3.6% to 791,000 jobs. The types of jobs cited include those in accommodation and food services, aviation, travel agencies, arts and culture, sports, leisure, gambling, and industries such as retail trade, public transport and taxi services.
A new survey commissioned by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and conducted by the Centraal Bureau for Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports that in 2018, tourists spent a record €87.5 billion in the Netherlands. When adjusted to price changes, this represents a 4.1% increase from 2017.
The report indicates an increase in tourism spending from both foreign and domestic tourists. Domestic tourism rose to €51.9 billion in 2018, a €2.7 billion increase from 2017, and foreign tourist spending increased from the previous year by €2.5 billion to a total of €32.5 billion.
According to CBS, “Dutch holidaymakers mainly spent more on food and beverages at hotels, restaurants and cafés, but they also spent more on items such as fuel, sports and leisure activities.” CBS attributes increased domestic spending within the local tourism industry to warmer weather which lasted longer than in 2017. The increase in spending from foreign tourists was attributed in part to a higher number of nights spent in the Netherlands. Additionally, CBS reports that more foreign travelers booked accommodations through a Dutch travel company, stipulating that “although many of them did not actually travel to the Netherlands, Dutch companies did benefit financially from these bookings.”
Last year’s increase in tourist income was also accompanied by an increase in employment. According to CBS, last year employment within the Dutch tourism industry rose by 3.6% to 791,000 jobs. The types of jobs cited include those in accommodation and food services, aviation, travel agencies, arts and culture, sports, leisure, gambling, and industries such as retail trade, public transport and taxi services.
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