Malta, Cyprus, Poland, Romania, Germany, Finland, Ireland, Croatia, And Sweden Headline Europe’s Tourism Rollercoaster With Surging Arrivals And Free-Falling Markets In Early 2025 – Travel And Tour World

Malta, Cyprus, Poland, Romania, Germany, Finland, Ireland, Croatia, and Sweden headline Europe’s tourism rollercoaster in early 2025 as new EU travel data reveals explosive growth in some destinations and steep declines in others, driven by shifting holiday calendars, uneven foreign demand, and diverging domestic trends. While Malta, Cyprus, and Finland saw remarkable surges in international arrivals—buoyed by strong air connectivity and off-season appeal—countries like Ireland, Croatia, and Sweden faced double-digit drops as later Easter dates, high costs, and weaker outbound interest dragged down overnight stays. Meanwhile, Poland, Romania, and Germany maintained solid domestic travel figures, but fell behind in attracting foreign visitors, highlighting the continent’s increasingly fragmented tourism landscape.

Tourism across the European Union experienced a modest slowdown in early 2025, with the first quarter recording a total of 452.4 million overnight stays in tourist accommodations. This represents a minor decrease of 0.2% compared to the same quarter in 2024. Despite strong performance in January, the overall numbers were held back by declines in February and March, primarily due to shifting holiday dates.

In January 2025, tourist activity across the EU surged, with accommodations recording 139 million overnight stays, reflecting a healthy 3.5% increase from January 2024. However, February brought a slight pullback, totaling 147.7 million nights, down 0.8% from the previous year. The trend continued into March, which posted 167.7 million stays, a drop of 2.7% compared to March 2024.

The timing of public holidays played a significant role in these fluctuations. School breaks associated with Carnival celebrations occurred later than usual, shifting more travel activity into March instead of February. More notably, Easter moved from March to April, leading to reduced tourism activity during the final month of the quarter. These calendar shifts helped explain the overall quarterly decline despite steady demand.

Across the EU, international tourists accounted for 45.6% of all overnight stays in the first quarter. However, the proportion of foreign travelers varied considerably among member states. Several southern and smaller countries continued to attract a predominantly international crowd. Malta led the bloc with 91.2% of overnight stays by foreign guests, followed closely by Cyprus at 85.7% and Luxembourg at 80.4%. These figures confirm the ongoing reliance of some EU countries on inbound travel to fuel their tourism sectors.

On the other hand, larger markets with more robust domestic travel habits saw significantly lower shares of international visitors. In Poland, only 18.6% of overnight stays were from foreign travelers. Similarly, Romania posted 20.1%, while Germany recorded 20.2%. These numbers reflect a more balanced or inward-looking tourism structure, where residents continue to drive much of the demand for local accommodations.

Despite the slight overall decline in total stays, international tourism across the EU showed resilience. The number of nights spent by foreign tourists rose 1.1% compared to the first quarter of 2024, indicating a continued recovery in international travel following the disruptions of recent years. However, this gain was offset by a 1.3% decline in domestic tourism, as fewer EU residents opted for local getaways during the early part of the year.

Several countries stood out for their significant year-on-year increases in foreign overnight stays. Latvia recorded the strongest growth, with an 18.5% surge in nights booked by international visitors. Malta followed closely, posting a 17.2% rise, while Finland saw a healthy 10.6% increase. These gains may be linked to targeted marketing campaigns, improved air connectivity, or a growing appetite for off-the-beaten-path and nature-oriented destinations.

Meanwhile, a few countries experienced sharp declines in international guest nights. Ireland registered the steepest drop, with a 23.1% fall in foreign overnight stays. Croatia also saw a notable 16.7% decrease, while Sweden’s international bookings fell by 11.5%. These declines could stem from a mix of factors, including high travel costs, fewer direct flights, reduced promotion abroad, or seasonal downturns.

The data illustrates the fragile but steady pace of tourism recovery in Europe. While certain countries are seeing a resurgence in international arrivals, others continue to face obstacles in reviving pre-pandemic travel levels. Weather, pricing, infrastructure, and air route availability all play a role in shaping these trends.

Notably, some destinations that once relied heavily on short-haul European travelers may now be facing stiffer competition from countries that have successfully repositioned themselves as attractive long-haul or niche destinations. For instance, destinations that offer eco-tourism, wellness retreats, or cultural experiences are drawing attention from travelers looking for more than just sun and sea.

Looking ahead, analysts expect the second quarter of 2025 to show stronger results due to the late Easter holiday falling in April. That shift is likely to boost travel across many parts of the EU, especially in southern countries and traditional holiday hotspots that benefit from warm spring weather and extended breaks.

The rise in foreign overnight stays, albeit modest, suggests that Europe remains highly attractive to international tourists. Ongoing investments in tourism infrastructure, airport expansions, digital travel facilitation, and coordinated EU marketing efforts are expected to continue drawing visitors from both nearby and long-distance markets.

At the same time, domestic tourism will remain a crucial pillar of the industry. While the first quarter of 2025 showed a dip in domestic stays, the pattern could reverse in the months ahead as residents look to take advantage of spring and summer holidays, especially in regions that offer budget-friendly options or countryside escapes.

In early 2025, EU tourism saw sharp contrasts as Malta, Cyprus, and Finland reported surging arrivals driven by strong international demand, while Ireland, Croatia, and Sweden faced steep declines due to shifting holiday calendars, rising costs, and weaker foreign interest.

In sum, tourism in the European Union during early 2025 showed mixed results. Modest declines tied to the calendar were offset by signs of growing international demand. With better-aligned holiday schedules and ongoing recovery momentum, the coming quarters could deliver a more robust performance across both domestic and foreign travel segments. The first three months of the year highlight both the vulnerabilities and the resilience of the tourism sector, setting the stage for what could be a promising rest of the year.