Full Year Analysis
The year in context
With 540,824 foreign passengers through Keflavík Airport, 2011 ranks 14th of the 23 complete years on record, 23% of the record set in 2018. Compared with the average of the five preceding years, 2011 came in ahead by 20.0%. Foreign hotel nights reached 25% of their 2025 record.
Overall Performance
2011 marked continued recovery and growth for Iceland's tourism sector. Foreign visitors recorded 1,213,951 overnight stays in hotels throughout the year, an increase of 15.2% compared to 2010's 1,053,619 nights.
Spending Trends
Tourist card spending totaled 62 billion ISK in 2011, up 28.3% from 2010. On a per-night basis, spending averaged 51k ISK, an increase of 11.3% year-over-year. Spending growth outpaced volume growth, suggesting higher per-visitor expenditure.
Seasonal Patterns
Jul was the busiest month with 204,073 foreign overnight stays, while Jan recorded the lowest volume at 42,231 nights. Average hotel occupancy ranged from winter lows to summer peaks, with a full-year average of 49.8%.
Source Markets
United Kingdom remained Iceland's largest source market, accounting for 17.6% of foreign overnight stays. United States of America (14.8%) and Germany (14.4%) rounded out the top three. Notable growth came from United States of America, Other European countries, Spain.
Data Sources
- Overnight Stays: Statistics Iceland (Hagstofa Íslands)
- Occupancy Rates: Statistics Iceland
- Card Spending: Central Bank of Iceland (Seðlabanki Íslands)