Full Year Analysis
The year in context
With 459,252 foreign passengers through Keflavík Airport, 2010 ranks 18th of the 23 complete years on record, 20% of the record set in 2018. Compared with the average of the five preceding years, 2010 came in ahead by 6.5%. Foreign hotel nights reached 22% of their 2025 record.
Overall Performance
2010 presented challenges for Iceland's tourism sector. Foreign visitors recorded 1,053,619 overnight stays in hotels throughout the year, a decrease of 1.9% compared to 2009's 1,073,837 nights.
Spending Trends
Tourist card spending totaled 48 billion ISK in 2010, up 0.1% from 2009. On a per-night basis, spending averaged 46k ISK, an increase of 2.0% year-over-year. Spending growth outpaced volume growth, suggesting higher per-visitor expenditure.
Seasonal Patterns
Jul was the busiest month with 178,629 foreign overnight stays, while Dec recorded the lowest volume at 38,556 nights. Average hotel occupancy ranged from winter lows to summer peaks, with a full-year average of 46.3%.
Source Markets
United Kingdom remained Iceland's largest source market, accounting for 18.6% of foreign overnight stays. Germany (17.3%) and United States of America (11.2%) rounded out the top three. Notable growth came from Germany.
Data Sources
- Overnight Stays: Statistics Iceland (Hagstofa Íslands)
- Occupancy Rates: Statistics Iceland
- Card Spending: Central Bank of Iceland (Seðlabanki Íslands)