European Tourist Attractions

European Tourist Attractions

Domestic tourism — meaning internal travel by a country's residents — is fairly flat in Europe. However, the inbound market is recovering from two damaging episodes earlier in the decade: the events of 11th September 2001 and the subsequent outbreak of the `war on terrorism', and economic slumps in several key European countries.

Key Note estimates that there were 463 million arrivals by tourists in European countries in 2006, showing growth of 16.5% since 2002, although growth rates between 2002 and 2006 varied from country to country, from an increase of 56.3% for Turkey, to a 5.8% decline for Italy.

In terms of frontier arrivals, France retains its leading position in Europe with an estimated 77 million arrivals in 2006, well ahead of Spain (at 59 million), Italy (at 37.5 million), the UK (at 30.5 million) and Germany (at 22 million). However, arrivals in Spain continue to rise, whereas the French market appears to have reached saturation point. Spain is also the top European country by income from visiting tourists, because the country's visitors spend longer in Spain; arrivals in France include a higher proportion of short-stay visitors.

Spain's seaside tourism gives it European leadership on some measures, but the outstanding tourist magnets, or urban `honeypots', remain London and Paris. London's host of traditional attractions — the British Museum, the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Madame Tussauds et al — has been joined in the 2000s by major new ones, including the British Airways London Eye, a giant ferris-wheel attraction, and the Tate Modern art gallery. Generally, the River Thames through London has been opened up for tourism. Paris also has attractions both old and modern, and the added tourism benefit of hosting Europe's only Disney theme park. With 12.8 million admissions in 2006, Disneyland Resort Paris is by far Europe's major commercial park; the continent's other `national' theme parks include Alton Towers (in the UK), PortAventura (in Spain), Europa-Park (in Germany) and three Legoland parks.

No other city can match London or Paris for sheer visitor numbers, yet every country has something unique to offer, demonstrated by the following examples:

* Rome's relics of its Empire and the Vatican
* Berlin's rejuvenation since Reunification and the fall of the Wall
* Barcelona's outstanding buildings by Gaudí
* Venice's precarious construction on a network of canals.

In contrast to other continents, European `attractions tourism' is dominated by attractions that are based in history and cultures going back many centuries. For many visitors, simply wandering around the `old towns' — the well-preserved ancient hearts of many cities and towns across Europe — is enough of an attraction. Some cities have never been allowed to change significantly, while others have enjoyed regeneration to make them more appealing to tourists.

`Old town' tourism is just one identifiable type of attractions tourism; others include `ecclesiastical' (visiting major cathedrals and churches), `collections' (museums, art galleries and zoos), `fortification' (castles and city walls) and `stately home' (country seats, châteaux and royal residences) tourism.

Owners range across national, regional and local governments, municipalities (cities), non-profit organisations (including churches, charities and trusts) and private owners. The latter include families (e.g. aristocratic owners of stately homes) and corporate owners, such as theme-park operators.

There has been some consolidation of ownership, with a strong British bias. A large number of commercial attractions (e.g. theme parks and water parks) in several countries are now owned by Tussauds Group or Merlin Entertainments (both of UK), Compagnie des Alpes (France) and Parques Reunidos (Spain).

Attractions tourism will continue to grow as long as Europe does not suffer undue turmoil, such as internal military conflicts (which are increasingly unlikely), serious terrorist attacks in cities or environmental disasters. Among the more normal factors encouraging growth, or change, will be:

* a tendency for major attractions to increase their admission prices, often with a more comprehensive `experience' for the price
* transport improvements, particularly more low-cost airline routes and railway developments
* provision of more budget or `no-frills' hotels and hostels in the more expensive cities.

In the long term, the most significant future trend for Europe's tourism will be the broadening out of origin countries. Eastern Europe's integration into the EU has provided a boost and both China and India could provide massive numbers of future `attractions tourists'.

1. Introduction
DEFINITIONS
European
Tourist
Attraction
The `Honeypot' Concept
STATISTICAL SOURCES

2. Strategic Overview
CLASSIFYING TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
Principal Categories of Tourist Attraction
`Old Town' Tourism
Ecclesiastical Tourism
Cultural Collections Tourism
Castles and Stately Homes Tourism
Commercial Attractions Tourism
Educational Attractions Tourism
Other Attractions
EUROPE'S `HONEYPOTS' — ANCIENT AND MODERN
Avignon
The Eiffel Tower
Berlin
London
Table 1: Number of Overnight Visitors to London (million and %), 2000-2007
THEME PARKS IN EUROPE
The UK Parks and Tussauds Group
Disneyland Resort Paris
Compagnie des Alpes
Merlin Entertainments
Grupo Parques Reunidos
Other Theme Parks
OWNERSHIP OF OTHER TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION OF ATTRACTIONS
World Heritage Sites
European Cities/Capitals of Culture
Cities of Culture to 1999
Capitals of Culture
ADMISSIONS TO SELECTED TOP ATTRACTIONS

3. Tourism — General Developments in Europe
ECONOMIC CONDITIONS
Table 2: Growth in EU-15, EU-25 and US Gross Domestic Product per Capita (PPS 000 at current market prices), 2001-2006
Table 3: Index of European Gross Domestic Product per Capita in Selected Countries (EU-25=100), 2001-2006
GLOBAL TOURISM TRENDS
POLITICAL AND SOCIAL FACTORS
Conflicts in Europe
EU Enlargement
The Euro
The Sunshine Market
Other Travel Motivations
TOURISM INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENTS
Low-Cost Airlines
Other Transport Initiatives
Accommodation Developments

4. Tourism Flows in Europe
POPULATION
Table 4: Population of Selected Countries in Europe (million inhabitants), 2004
TOURIST ARRIVALS
Table 5: Tourist Arrivals in Europe by Top Inbound Countries (million), 1995 and 2002-2006
Table 6: Market Share of Tourist Arrivals in Europe by Top Inbound Countries (% of arrivals), 1995 and 2002-2006
TOURIST SPENDING
Table 7: Inbound Tourist Spending in Europe by Top Countries (_bn), 1995 and 2002-2006
Table 8: Market Share of Inbound Tourist Spending by Top Countries (% spending), 1995 and 2002-2006
NATIONAL PATTERNS OF INBOUND TOURISM
Table 9: Nights in Tourist Accommodation by Inbound Tourist/Arrivals in Selected Countries (million), 2006
Table 10: Average Spend Per Inbound Tourist Trip in Top Countries (_), 2006
DOMESTIC TOURISM
Table 11: Nights in Accommodation by Domestic Tourists in Selected Countries (million), 2001 and 2006
Table 12: Holidays Taken in Own Country and Abroad from Selected Countries (% of holidays), 2006

5. France
DESTINATION PROFILE
Table 13: The Population and Gross Domestic Product of France (million and ebn), 2001-2006
Table 14: Inbound Tourism Indicators for France — Number of Tourist Arrivals and Inbound Tourist Spending (million and ebn), 1995, 2002 and 2005-2006
Table 15: France's Share of the European Inbound Tourism Market by Number of Tourist Arrivals and Inbound Tourist Spending (%), 1995, 2002 and 2005-2006
MAJOR ATTRACTIONS
Paris
Table 16: Admissions and Financial Data for Disneyland Resort Paris (million and _m), Years to September 2004-2006
Other Attractions In and Around Paris
Other French Attractions
INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION

6. Spain
Destination Profile
Table 17: The Population and Gross Domestic Product of Spain (million and ebn), 2001-2006
Table 18: Inbound Tourism Indicators for Spain — Number of Tourist Arrivals and Inbound Tourist Spending (million and ebn), 1995, 2002 and 2005-2006
Table 19: Spain's Share of the European Inbound Tourism Market by Number of Tourist Arrivals and Inbound Tourist Spending (%), 1995, 2002 and 2005-2006
MAJOR ATTRACTIONS
Barcelona
Madrid
Other Attractions in Spain
International Recognition

7. Italy
DESTINATION PROFILE
Table 20: The Population and Gross Domestic Product of Italy (million and ebn), 2001-2006
Table 21: Inbound Tourism Indicators for Italy — Number of Tourist Arrivals and Inbound Tourist Spending (million and ebn), 1995, 2002 and 2005-2006
Table 22: Italy's Share of the European Inbound Tourism Market by Number of Tourist Arrivals and Inbound Tourist Spending (%), 1995, 2002 and 2005-2006
MAJOR ATTRACTIONS
Rome and the Vatican
Other Attractions in Italy
INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION

8. The UK
DESTINATION PROFILE
Table 23: The Population and Gross Domestic Product of the UK (million and ebn), 2001-2006
Table 24: Inbound Tourism Indicators for the UK — Number of Tourist Arrivals and Inbound Tourist Spending (million and ebn), 1995, 2002 and 2005-2006
Table 25: The UK's Share of the European Inbound Tourism Market by Number of Tourist Arrivals and Inbound Tourist Spending (%), 1995, 2002 and 2005-2006
MAJOR ATTRACTIONS
London
Other UK Attractions
INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION

9. Germany
DESTINATION PROFILE
Table 26: The Population and Gross Domestic Product of Germany (million and ebn), 2001-2006
Table 27: Inbound Tourism Indicators for Germany — Number of Tourist Arrivals and Inbound Tourist Spending (million and ebn), 1995, 2002 and 2005-2006
Table 28: Germany's Share of the European Inbound Tourism Market by Number of Tourist Arrivals and Inbound Tourist Spending (%), 1995, 2002 and 2005-2006
MAJOR ATTRACTIONS
Berlin
Other German Attractions
INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION

10. Other Countries
AUSTRIA
TURKEY
GREECE
THE NETHERLANDS
POLAND
OTHERs

11. The Future
INTERNATIONAL TOURISM
TERRORISM, DISASTERS AND THE `BOUNCEBACK' EFFECT
CHANGING ORIGIN PATTERNS
TRANSPORT DEVELOPMENTS
CITY DISCOUNT CARDS
SOCIAL FACTORS
MANAGEMENT OF GOVERNMENT ATTRACTIONS
MULTICULTURAL ISSUES IN EUROPE
SMALL-SCALE ATTRACTIONS

12. Consumer Confidence
METHODOLOGY
KEY FINDINGS THIS QUARTER
THE WILLINGNESS TO BORROW
Confidence Slips Slightly
Table A: The Average Amount Consumers Are Willing to Borrow in Order to Purchase Expensive Items at Current and Constant November 2004 Prices (£ and £bn), November 2005-2006
Significantly More Adults Are Willing to Borrow
Table B: The Number of Adults Willing to Borrow in Order to Purchase Expensive Items (000 and %), November 2005-2006
SPENDING FROM SAVINGS
Little Change in Spending from Savings
Table C: The Average Amount Consumers Are Willing to Spend from Savings in Order to Purchase Expensive Items at Current and Constant November 2004 Prices (£ and £bn), November 2005-2006
Saving Grows in Relative Importance
Table D: The Average Amounts Adults Are Confident Spending to Purchase Expensive Items (£ and %), November 2005-2006

13. Further Sources
Associations
Publications
Government Sources
Other Sources
Bisnode Sources