Reykjavik News
2009 Record Year for Tourism
566,000 tourists visited Iceland last year, making 2009 the biggest year ever in terms of tourist arrivals. This represents a 0.7% increase on 2008, when Iceland received 562,000 tourists.
There was a marked increase in cruise ship passengers, and tourists from Central - and Southern Europe and North America. At the same time there were decreases in the number of tourists from the UK, Eastern Europe and other countries.
These are impressive numbers considering the global economic recession and the fact that many other countries are struggling with declining tourist numbers. 2009 was also a boom year for domestic tourism in Iceland, with more Icelanders choosing to holiday at home rather than travel abroad.
"It is difficult to predict developments in tourist numbers in the near future", says Director General for Tourism Olof Yrr Atladottir. Most of Iceland's neighbouring countries expect slow growth in tourism for 2010. For Iceland, however, the outlook is good, due to increased flight supply (including 12 new destinations), a continuing weak local currency and extensive press coverage on Iceland as a great value destination to visit in 2010.
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