The number of overnight stays in tourist accommodation in the European Union increased 1.7% in the first half of 2026, totaling 1.321 billion, according to data from Eurostat published on 1 September. This figure represents 22 million more overnight stays compared to the same period in 2025, when 1.299 billion overnight stays had been recorded.
Foreign visitors' overnight stays grew 2.5% year-on-year, almost three times more than overnight stays by residents, which increased by just 0.9%. Across the EU as a whole, foreigners accounted for 48.9% of all overnight stays in the first six months of the year, although with significant differences between Member States.
Malta, Cyprus and Luxembourg were the countries with the highest proportion of foreign tourist overnight stays, at 95.2%, 92.6% and 87.7% respectively. Conversely, in Germany, Poland and Romania, foreign tourists accounted for less than a quarter of overnight stays.
Ireland recorded the highest year-on-year increase in overnight stays, with a rise of 14.6%, followed by Malta and Slovakia. On the other hand, nine Member States recorded decreases, with the biggest declines occurring in Cyprus and Romania, with drops of 7.7% and 6.7% respectively.
