Foreign visitors' consumption in Sweden amounted to SEK 58.3 billion in the first half of 2026, an increase of around 11 percent. This can be compared to the fact that Swedish exports of goods increased by around 3 percent in the same period, according to Visit Sweden's compilation of statistics from Statistics Sweden.
In Statistics Sweden's service export statistics, foreign visitors' consumption in Sweden is reported under the category "Travel". This includes, among other things, international visitors' spending on accommodation, restaurants, transport, shopping and other services during their stay.
During the first quarter of the year, the export value in the category amounted to SEK 24.9 billion. During the second quarter, it increased to SEK 33.4 billion, giving a total of SEK 58.3 billion during January–June.
Visit Sweden notes that the growth of around 11 percent was almost four times as high as the increase in goods exports of around 3 percent.
– When the half-year figures are summed up, it becomes clear that foreign visitors are very important and contribute significant export revenue to Sweden. During the first six months of the year, tourism revenue from foreign visitors has increased more than much else, says Susanne Andersson, CEO of Visit Sweden.
Visit Sweden: Among the ten largest export categories
Visit Sweden has also combined Statistics Sweden statistics on exports of goods and services to compare the export value of tourism with other parts of the Swedish economy.
According to that compilation, the value of SEK 58.3 billion in foreign visitors' consumption places it among Sweden's ten largest export categories during the first half of the year.
According to the compilation, the travel item is close to the export value of base metals and steel, which is estimated at SEK 60–65 billion during the period.
It is also larger than the export of ores and minerals, including iron ore, of around SEK 18–21 billion.
Visit Sweden also compares with the forest industry. Forest products as a whole had a higher export value, around SEK 80–85 billion. However, when broken down into wood products and pulp, paper and cardboard, each category was smaller than travel exports.
Nearly ten percent of service exports
According to Visit Sweden's compilation, the Travel category accounted for almost 10 percent of Sweden's total service exports during the period.
The export value was also higher than the item fees for intellectual property rights, which includes, among other things, license and royalty income.
The comparisons are based on aggregated categories in Statistics Sweden statistics and should therefore be seen as a comparison between different statistical export items, rather than between individual industries on completely equal terms.
Visit Sweden sees room for continued growth
During the first half of the year, the occupancy rate for available rooms in Sweden was around 52 percent, according to statistics from the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth, which Visit Sweden refers to.
Foreign visitors also account for about a quarter of commercial guest nights.
– The fact that foreign visitors only account for about a quarter of commercial guest nights shows that there is great potential to further strengthen Sweden's position as an international travel destination, says Susanne Andersson.
