European cities see tourism rebound

The French capital has been a tourist magnet for decades. It's no wonder when you consider everything it has to offer, from elegant boulevards to sophisticated restaurants. In 2019, Paris was Europe's most-visited city. Industry estimates suggest the city's tourist sector is quickly recovering after the two-year COVID-19 slump. Between June and August alone, 10 million guests came to the city.

VisitBritain forecasts that almost 27 million people could visit Britain this year, roughly 65% of 2019 figures. London will undoubtedly receive a substantial share of these guests. After all, the British capital is steeped in history, offers countless cutting-edge museums, a cosmopolitan flair and much more. In 2019, London was the second-most visited city in Europe.

Around 5.5 million visitors traveled to Berlin in the first seven months of 2022 — 30% less than in 2019. However, visitors stayed longer and traveled to the city more frequently by train. It's a small step toward more sustainable travel, which was major topic in almost all European metropolises during the pandemic but rarely led to concrete steps to solve problems like overtourism.

The Czech capital of roughly 1.3 million people has been and remains a popular tourist destination. Yet those in the tourism industry lament that visitor numbers have not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels. The situation is similar in many Eastern and Central European cities. Tour operators are avoiding Eastern Europe due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Overtourism was a problem for Venice before the pandemic, and now the issue is once again in the spotlight as tourists pack bridges and form long lines in front of St. Mark's Basilica. Although there aren't quite as many people as in 2019, there are already too many for the locals. From January 2023, tourists on day trips will have to make a reservation to visit the city and pay an entrance fee.

A favorite among tourists, the Catalan city on Spain's Mediterranean coast has seen visitor numbers bounce back this summer. In a bid to tackle the problem of overtourism, however, city officials have imposed restrictions on tour guides. They must ditch megaphones and run smaller tours that will not obstruct pedestrians in the city center. So far, no rules have been imposed on beachgoers.

Droughts this summer and a water shortage didn't stop tourists from flocking to the coasts of Portugal, including the Algarve, as well as the country's capital, Lisbon. The city on the Atlantic is very popular with tourists from abroad. There could soon be some new fans, too: In October 2022, Lisbon won the World Travel Award for Europe's most attractive city break destination.

With a rich history, vibrant culture and even a coastline, Athens has plenty to offer tourists. After the standstill caused by the pandemic, this summer led to record revenues for those working in the Greek tourism industry. The Greek government is riding the wave and planning investments to attract guests to other lesser-known destinations around the country this fall and winter.

The pandemic-related drop in tourism dealt a serious financial blow to Croatia. This year, however, the tourists were back in droves. According to forecasts by the Croatian National Bank, tourism revenues in 2022 will be around €11.3 billion ($11 billion), exceeding 2019 revenues by almost €1 billion. Beautiful Dubrovnik (pictured) remains a popular destination.