Full Year Analysis
The year in context
With 398,901 foreign passengers through Keflavík Airport, 2006 ranks 20th of the 23 complete years on record, 17% of the record set in 2018. Compared with the average of the five preceding years, 2006 came in ahead by 17.5%. Foreign hotel nights reached 19% of their 2025 record.
Overall Performance
2006 marked continued recovery and growth for Iceland's tourism sector. Foreign visitors recorded 917,948 overnight stays in hotels throughout the year, an increase of 12.3% compared to 2005's 817,260 nights.
Spending Trends
Tourist card spending totaled 21 billion ISK in 2006, up 26.2% from 2005. On a per-night basis, spending averaged 23k ISK, an increase of 12.3% year-over-year. Spending growth outpaced volume growth, suggesting higher per-visitor expenditure.
Seasonal Patterns
Jul was the busiest month with 158,562 foreign overnight stays, while Jan recorded the lowest volume at 27,120 nights. Average hotel occupancy ranged from winter lows to summer peaks, with a full-year average of 51.4%.
Source Markets
United Kingdom remained Iceland's largest source market, accounting for 19.9% of foreign overnight stays. United States of America (13.1%) and Germany (12.9%) rounded out the top three. Notable growth came from United Kingdom, Other European countries, Netherlands.
Data Sources
- Overnight Stays: Statistics Iceland (Hagstofa Íslands)
- Occupancy Rates: Statistics Iceland
- Card Spending: Central Bank of Iceland (Seðlabanki Íslands)