Tourism value added recovered slightly in 2021

As the value added of the tourism sector in 2021 grew more rapidly than the Dutch economy as a whole, the share of tourism in the Dutch economy rose slightly, from 2.3 to 2.5 percent. This share was still 4.4 percent in 2019. Nevertheless, the value added did not increase in all tourism-related sectors. Especially the tourism-oriented parts of accommodation and food services, aviation, travel agencies and travel services showed a sharp recovery last year. In the art and culture sector, however, value added dropped even further than in 2020, the first pandemic year.

Mainly domestic tourism

In 2021, domestic and foreign tourists combined spent 5.7 billion euros more than in 2020, but still 31.9 billion euros less compared to 2019. The partial recovery mainly came from domestic tourism, which includes both domestic spending by Dutch tourists and trips abroad booked by Dutch tourists with Dutch travel companies. Inbound foreign tourism also yielded more revenue.

The recovery of the tourism sector went hand in hand with the relaxation of the coronavirus measures. In the first few months of 2021 a strict lockdown was still in place, but the various measures against the spread of COVID-19 were relaxed in the course of the year.

In 2020, tourist expenditure (adjusted for price changes) fell by 42.2 percent relative to 2019, which eliminated the growth of the preceding ten years within a short period of time. Despite partial recovery (6.0 percent), in 2021 tourist expenditure was still below the level of 2010, even after adjustment for price changes.

17.8 billion euros from inbound tourism

In 2021, spending by foreign incoming tourists amounted to 17.8 billion euros. This spending concerns not only foreign visitors but also foreign tourists booking trips outside the Netherlands using Dutch providers. Despite an increase of 2.1 billion euros relative to 2020, in 2021 these revenues were still far below pre-COVID level. In 2019, foreign tourist spending within the Dutch economy still amounted to 34.7 billion euros, nearly twice as much as in 2021. The share held by foreign tourists amounted to 29.6 percent in 2020 and 30.2 percent in 2021. In the period 2010 to 2019 inclusive, this share had risen from 25.0 to 38.2 percent.

Dutch tourist expenditure abroad slightly recovered

In 2021, just as in 2020, there was significantly less travel abroad by Dutch tourists compared to the pre-pandemic years. Various measures were in place which restricted travel abroad in both years. Spending by Dutch tourists outside the Dutch economy amounted to 7.5 billion euros in 2021. Adjusted for price changes, this is 60.4 percent below the level of 2019.

Tourism employment further down

Whereas value added and expenditure picked up again after the steep decline in the first pandemic year, tourism employment continued to decline in 2021. The labour volume in the tourism sector decreased by 4.3 percent. This was mainly seen in accommodation and food services, aviation, travel agencies and travel services. Thanks to government support measures, employment fell much less substantially than tourism expenditure and value added. A part of the staff who kept on thanks to wage support in 2020 possibly still left in 2021, reducing tourism employment further.