Full Year Analysis
The year in context
With 1,767,726 foreign passengers through Keflavík Airport, 2016 ranks 7th of the 23 complete years on record, 76% of the record set in 2018. Compared with the average of the five preceding years, 2016 came in ahead by 110.4%. Foreign hotel nights reached 71% of their 2025 record.
Overall Performance
2016 marked continued recovery and growth for Iceland's tourism sector. Foreign visitors recorded 3,463,402 overnight stays in hotels throughout the year, an increase of 36.0% compared to 2015's 2,547,149 nights.
Spending Trends
Tourist card spending totaled 233 billion ISK in 2016, up 50.3% from 2015. On a per-night basis, spending averaged 67k ISK, an increase of 10.6% year-over-year. Spending growth outpaced volume growth, suggesting higher per-visitor expenditure.
Seasonal Patterns
Jul was the busiest month with 422,020 foreign overnight stays, while Jan recorded the lowest volume at 172,948 nights. Average hotel occupancy ranged from winter lows to summer peaks, with a full-year average of 71.2%.
Source Markets
United States of America remained Iceland's largest source market, accounting for 25.9% of foreign overnight stays. United Kingdom (22.2%) and Germany (12.6%) rounded out the top three. Notable growth came from United States of America, United Kingdom, France.
Data Sources
- Overnight Stays: Statistics Iceland (Hagstofa Íslands)
- Occupancy Rates: Statistics Iceland
- Card Spending: Central Bank of Iceland (Seðlabanki Íslands)