Full Year Analysis
The year in context
With 2,195,271 foreign passengers through Keflavík Airport, 2017 ranks 5th of the 23 complete years on record, 95% of the record set in 2018. Compared with the average of the five preceding years, 2017 came in ahead by 102.3%. Foreign hotel nights reached 79% of their 2025 record.
Overall Performance
2017 marked continued recovery and growth for Iceland's tourism sector. Foreign visitors recorded 3,862,653 overnight stays in hotels throughout the year, an increase of 11.5% compared to 2016's 3,463,402 nights.
Spending Trends
Tourist card spending totaled 264 billion ISK in 2017, up 13.6% from 2016. On a per-night basis, spending averaged 68k ISK, an increase of 1.9% year-over-year. Spending growth outpaced volume growth, suggesting higher per-visitor expenditure.
Seasonal Patterns
Jul was the busiest month with 434,937 foreign overnight stays, while Apr recorded the lowest volume at 256,224 nights. Average hotel occupancy ranged from winter lows to summer peaks, with a full-year average of 72.2%.
Source Markets
United States of America remained Iceland's largest source market, accounting for 29.1% of foreign overnight stays. United Kingdom (19.6%) and Germany (10.4%) rounded out the top three. Notable growth came from United States of America, China, Other Asian countries.
Data Sources
- Overnight Stays: Statistics Iceland (Hagstofa Íslands)
- Occupancy Rates: Statistics Iceland
- Card Spending: Central Bank of Iceland (Seðlabanki Íslands)