Linköping: A Thriving Summer Destination with 19% More Overnight Stays Than Pre-Pandemic

Linköping continues to attract an increasing number of visitors, solidifying its position as a popular summer destination in Sweden. The city has seen a remarkable 19% growth in overnight stays during the summer months compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019, significantly outpacing the national average of 2%.

Record-Breaking Summer for Linköping

During the summer months of June, July, and August 2024, Linköping welcomed a total of 220,603 overnight stays. This represents a 1.2% increase compared to the same period in 2023. The growth is primarily attributed to a surge in international visitors, with foreign overnight stays increasing by 15%.

Jörgen Nilsson, Head of Tourism at Visit Linköping & Co, commented on the city’s success:

“Linköping has now experienced non-stop growth in overnight stays for over two decades, with the exception of 2020 and 2021 during the pandemic. Comparing the summer months before the pandemic in 2019 with the summer months of 2024, we have seen a remarkable growth of 19%.”

Breakdown of Visitors

• Swedish visitors: 168,751 (76.5% of total)
• International visitors: 51,852 (23.5% of total)

While domestic overnight stays decreased slightly by 2.5%, the significant increase in international visitors more than compensated for this decline. The top international markets during the summer were Germany, the United States, and Norway.

Challenges and Future Considerations

Despite the overall positive trends, some businesses within the tourism sector have experienced a decline compared to the previous year. Visitors continue to travel despite global uncertainties and economic pressures but seem to be engaging in fewer activities during their stays.

Nilsson also highlighted the need for more comprehensive metrics to measure success in the tourism industry:

“There is also a discussion within the tourism industry about how best to measure success now and in the future. Talking only about growth linked to overnight stays certainly doesn’t give the whole picture, but at present there is no better way to measure and compare than this. Working with measures that take into account quality and sustainability is an important issue going forward where research in the area needs to be developed.”

About Visit Linköping & Co

Visit Linköping & Co is Linköping’s tourism company, responsible for marketing and developing the city as one of Sweden’s leading destinations for visitors, events, and meetings. The company works in collaboration with the municipality and local businesses to increase growth in Linköping’s tourism industry and create an attractive destination for both residents and visitors.

For more information about Linköping and its attractions, visit the official press release.