LUXEMBOURG / RankWire.AI / – A total of 1.321 billion overnight stays were registered across the European Union during the initial six months of 2026, marking a 1.7% rise from 1.299 billion nights in the same period last year. Eurostat compiled data covering hotel stays, short-term accommodations, campgrounds, and similar commercial lodging options. These figures encompass both domestic and international travelers within all 27 EU member states, focusing on nights spent rather than tourist arrivals or expenditure.
Ireland experienced the most significant growth, with overnight stays increasing by 14.6% compared to the first half of 2025. Malta followed with a 9.9% increase, while Slovakia saw a 5.9% rise. Conversely, nine member states encountered declines during this period. Cyprus recorded the largest decline at 7.7%, and Romania was down 6.7%. These variations reveal considerable differences in tourism activity across EU markets.
Foreign visitors made up 48.9% of all EU tourist accommodation nights in the first half of 2026. Malta had the highest international share, accounting for 95.2% of its total overnight stays. Cyprus followed closely at 92.6%, with Luxembourg at 87.7%. These figures include travelers arriving from other EU countries and from outside the bloc. The remaining demand was driven by domestic guests, whose significance varies sharply between nations.
International tourism fuels first-half growth
Visitor nights by foreigners increased by 2.5% from the first half of 2025, while nights from domestic tourists grew by just 0.9%. The growth in international accommodation use outpaced domestic stays across the EU, with foreign travelers generating nearly half of all recorded tourist nights. Analyzing the resident versus non-resident split offers a clearer picture of the sources of tourism demand during this six-month period.
Some major tourism markets relied more heavily on local visitors. Germany’s international share was 18.5%, Poland’s 19.8%, and Romania’s 23.0%. In each of these countries, foreign visitors made up less than 25% of total overnight stays. In stark contrast, Malta, Cyprus, and Luxembourg saw international guests constituting the majority of their overnight stays. These figures highlight the diverse structure of tourism activity across the EU.
Hotels and campsites dominate the tourism accommodation landscape
The reported totals include hotels, similar lodging properties, holiday rentals, and other short-stay facilities. They also encompass campsites, RV parks, and trailer parks. An overnight stay is counted for each night a guest spends at a registered tourist accommodation. Nights spent in non-commercial lodging are excluded. This approach provides national tourism authorities with a standardized reporting framework for commercial lodging activities, enabling the compilation of EU-wide figures.
Preliminary data from the first quarter indicated 471.1 million tourism nights within the EU, representing a 3.4% increase from the same quarter in 2025. January alone accounted for 143.5 million nights, February for 154.4 million, and March for 173.2 million, with each month showing year-on-year growth. The latest Eurostat release extends the period through June, bringing the total EU tourist accommodation nights for the first half of 2026 to 1.321 billion.
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