Figures released by national agency Statistics Denmark on Tuesday show that over 25 million tourists spent at least one night in the country in the first half of 2024, an increase of 1.4 percent or 350,000 people compared to 2023.
The number, a record for the first six months of the year, accounts for bookings from abroad and from within Denmark. A notable element is the increase in tourists from Germany, who contributed 7.5 million of the bookings alone.
The head of tourism at the Confederation of Danish Industry’s tourism department, Lars Bertolt Winther, said the sector’s growth is “not least because we are in such a strong position in the German market, where we’ve never had so many visitors in this period as we had this year.”
“We have, for example, never had so many American visitors either, and they contribute to hotel bookings, especially in the Copenhagen area,” he added in comments to the Ritzau newswire.
While Copenhagen is a popular choice for US tourists, coastal parts of Jutland – a manageable rail or car journey from Germany – have long been a favourite among German tourists who spend their vacations in Denmark.
Their appeal now appears to be growing as part of a larger trend which is seeing increasing tourism in Denmark.
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In a statement, Danish Business Minister Morten Bødskov praised the strong numbers from the tourism sector.
“The ambition is clear. Denmark is to be a leading tourist destination all year round,” he said.
“This trend is hugely important for Denmark because more tourists equals more customers at the local store or museum,” he said.
“In other words, tourism contributes to healthy and thriving businesses in large parts of the country and is a foundation for creating growth and jobs. It is therefore crucial that we manage to maintain momentum and strengthen Danish tourism,” he said, adding that tourism is a “major focus for the government”.
Although June saw a slight drop in the number of overnight visitors, a surge in stays during the spring months pushed the figure to a record level.
Regional tourism boards in Copenhagen, Zealand and North Jutland in particular saw huge boosts to their tourist industries with over 5 percent growth in visitor numbers compared to last year according to data from national board VisitDenmark.
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