Full Year Analysis
The year in context
With 781,016 foreign passengers through Keflavík Airport, 2013 ranks 11th of the 23 complete years on record, 34% of the record set in 2018. Compared with the average of the five preceding years, 2013 came in ahead by 51.1%. Foreign hotel nights reached 35% of their 2025 record.
Overall Performance
2013 marked continued recovery and growth for Iceland's tourism sector. Foreign visitors recorded 1,709,124 overnight stays in hotels throughout the year, an increase of 15.5% compared to 2012's 1,479,677 nights.
Spending Trends
Tourist card spending totaled 91 billion ISK in 2013, up 22.3% from 2012. On a per-night basis, spending averaged 53k ISK, an increase of 5.9% year-over-year. Spending growth outpaced volume growth, suggesting higher per-visitor expenditure.
Seasonal Patterns
Jul was the busiest month with 259,104 foreign overnight stays, while Jan recorded the lowest volume at 75,087 nights. Average hotel occupancy ranged from winter lows to summer peaks, with a full-year average of 60.1%.
Source Markets
United Kingdom remained Iceland's largest source market, accounting for 22.1% of foreign overnight stays. United States of America (17.6%) and Germany (14.3%) rounded out the top three. Notable growth came from United Kingdom, United States of America, Japan.
Data Sources
- Overnight Stays: Statistics Iceland (Hagstofa Íslands)
- Occupancy Rates: Statistics Iceland
- Card Spending: Central Bank of Iceland (Seðlabanki Íslands)