Preliminary statistics for the full year 2020 show that guest nights at hotels, campsites, holiday villages and hostels in Sweden decreased by 36 percent compared to 2019. Accommodation revenue amounted to SEK 16.8 billion, a decrease of SEK 14.7 billion compared to the previous year.
Swedish guest nights decreased by 24 percent in 2020, while foreign guest nights decreased by a full 70 percent compared to 2019. During the period from March to December 2020, that is, since the outbreak of the coronavirus, the number of guest nights decreased by 41 percent compared to the corresponding period the previous year.
– It was a historically bleak year for the tourism industry with large losses in revenue and many layoffs. The recovery we have seen in the industry has not been evident in the service sector, but hotels and restaurants have been hit hard by the pandemic and the restrictions. Unfortunately, the problems look set to continue in the first half of 2021, until the infection is under control, says Kristian Seth, Head of Analysis at the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth.
HHotels and hostels lost the most accommodation revenue
Guest nights in hotels decreased by 43 percent, in hostels the decrease in guest nights was 40 percent. In holiday villages, guest nights decreased by 27 percent. Overnight stays in campsites decreased by 24 percent and lost 20 percent in accommodation revenue compared to the previous year.
70 percent reduction in foreign guest nights
In connection with the outbreak of the coronavirus in March, foreign guest nights decreased sharply, with a decrease of 70 percent in 2020. The largest decrease was measured in April, 88 percent compared to April 2019. Guest nights for Sweden's largest foreign markets, i.e. Norway and Germany, decreased by 87 percent and 72 percent respectively compared to 2019.
Guest nights decreased in all counties
Compared to 2019, guest nights decreased in 2020 for all counties in Sweden. Stockholm County had the largest decrease, followed by Västra Götaland and Kronoberg counties. Gävleborg County lost the least, followed by Blekinge.
– It was really only during the summer of 2020 that we could see some glimmers of light, such as Swedish mountain tourism increasing when you couldn't travel abroad. Foreign city tourists have basically disappeared completely, which is reflected in the statistics for Stockholm and the Västra Götaland region, says Kristian Seth, Head of Analysis at the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth.
The statistics are based on preliminary figures, which may be subject to some lag. The final statistics will be published in April 2021.. Therefore, the results should be interpreted with some caution.
