Dutch Tourism News

The number of jobs in the tourism in the Netherlands sector increased by 27.000 in 2018 to a total of 79.,000, according to the CBS (Dutch Statistics Office) on Wednesday following an investigation done at the request of the Ministry of Economic Affairs. Tourism spending in the Netherlands amounted to a total of 87.5 billion euros, which is 6.4 percent higher than the previous year, 2017.

Tourism Industry in the Netherlands

amsterdam tourism news
Amsterdam canals in the city centre.

The economic importance of tourism for the Netherlands continues to expand. Tourism share of the Dutch economy grew to 4.4%. An increase of 0.1 percent in 2018.

The added value of the sector totalled 30.4 billion euros in 2018, 7.1 percent more than the prior year. Adjusted for inflation, that increase was 5 percent, while the Dutch economy grew by just 2.6 percent in 2018. The hospitality industry in particular contributed to the added value of the sector with an increase of more than 12 billion euros.

Dutch Tourism Statistics

Locals & tourists at Amsterdam’s Nieuwmarkt.

Spending growth was due to spending by both foreign and domestic tourism. For Dutch tourists in their own country, spending was 2.7 billion euros higher than the prior year, with a total of 51.9 billion euros. This means an increase of 5.5 percent, which was mainly due to the lengthy hot summer. The Dutch mainly spent more on drinks and food in the hospitality industry. Spending on fuel, sports and entertainment are the next major spending categories.

Dutch people who travel abroad often first spend their money on accommodation and transport in the Netherlands. Spending amounted to 6.6 billion euros, a 5.9 percent higher amount than in 2017.

Foreign Tourism in the Netherlands

Tourism in The Netherlands facts
Amsterdam, Oudezijds Voorburgwal.

Foreign tourists increased their spending in the Netherlands by 2.5 billion euros compared to the prior year, which resulted in a total amount of 32.5 billion euros. Spending growth of this group was 8.2% higher than that of Dutch tourists. This increase is mainly due to the large number of overnight stays, but also to a growing number of foreign tourists who booked their stay or a ticket through Dutch companies. “A large proportion of these tourists did not actually travel to the Netherlands, but Dutch companies did make money from these bookings,” states the CBS.

Increase In Tourism Jobs In the Netherlands

amsterdam tourism statistics

The number of jobs in the tourism sector increased by 3.6 percent to 791.000. The tourism in the Netherlands sector now covers 7.5 percent of the total number of jobs in the Netherlands.

Amsterdam Tourism Statistics

In 2019, the Amsterdam tourism sector accounted for 69,424 jobs. In 2018 there were 69,195 jobs in the tourism-industry which was 5% more than in 2017.

In Amsterdam, 11% of all jobs are in tourism (source). In other words: 1 out of 9 jobs in Amsterdam are in the tourism sector.

This growth is due not only to the increase in the number of tourists, but is also attributable to leisure activities among Amsterdam residents. Example: in 2018, attraction park the Efteling had 5.3 million visitors. The Red Light District was visited by 3.1 million people (source). The Rijksmuseum had 2.3 million visitors and the Keukenhof attracted 1.3 million visitors. (source)

The hospitality industry is the most widely represented, followed by sectors such as aviation, travel mediation, art and culture, sports, recreation and gambling. Retail, public transport and taxi services are the last to follow. The tourism in the Netherlands sector offers many part-time jobs. If those hours are converted to full-time jobs, the sector would account for a total of 474,000 jobs in the Netherlands in 2018.

Others who read this article also read: Rembrandt Paintings Explained and The Five Best Canals in Amsterdam.

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