Website: Statistics: Tourism

The European Union's tourism industry occupies an important place in the economy of the Member States with tourist activities representing a large potential source of employment. Any appraisal of its competitiveness requires a good knowledge of the volume of tourism, its characteristics, the profile of the tourist and tourism expenditure and the benefits for the European economies.

Tourism is an important economic activity in the European Union because it contributes to:
- Employment and economic growth
- Development and socioeconomic integration in rural, peripheral or underdeveloped areas

Tourism statistics can be used to monitor:
- Tourism-specific policies
- Regional policy and sustainable development