2019: For the first time in 9 years fewer tourists visited Iceland than the year before

According to a report from the Iceland Tourist Board, the year 2019 was the first in 9 years where fewer tourists visited Iceland than the year before. In 2019 14,2% fewer tourists visited this beautiful country than the year before.

Members of the tourist services sector are not worried though as the dent in revenues is much less, indicating that the tourists that are coming stay longer and buy more services.

Most tourists come from the USA, UK and Germany. Visitors from China were 11% more in 2019 than in 2018, a trend that is expected to continue as Chinese airlines have announced direct flights to Iceland beginning in 2020.