Tourism in Luxembourg

Luxembourg City
Luxembourg: main road and rail connections

Tourism is an important component of the national economy of Luxembourg, representing about 8.3% of GDP in 2009 and employing some 25,000 people or 11.7% of the working population.[1] Despite the 2008–2012 global recession, the Grand Duchy still welcomes over 900,000 visitors a year who spend an average of 2.5 nights in hotels, hostels or on camping sites.[2] Business travel is flourishing representing 44% of overnight stays in the country and 60% in the capital, up 11% and 25% between 2009 and 2010.[3] Published by the World Economic Forum in March 2011, the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report puts Luxembourg in 15th place worldwide, up from 23rd place in 2009.[4]

Major destinations are historic Luxembourg City, the medieval castle of Vianden, Echternach with its abbey and the wine districts of the Moselle valley. The Mullerthal with its rocky cliffs in the east and the mountainous Éislek region in the Ardennes to the north are also favourites for outdoor enthusiasts.[5]

Luxembourg has good road, rail and air connections with the rest of Europe, making it an increasingly popular destination for international meetings as well as for extended weekend stays.[6] Over half the visitors to Luxembourg come from the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany with substantial numbers from France, the United Kingdom and the United States. Camping is popular in Luxembourg, particularly with the Dutch, who camp for much longer than other nationalities, especially in the Ardennes and the Mullerthal.[2]

  1. ^ "Lux is the place to be for business travellers", News 352, 10 February 2011. Retrieved 14 February 2011.
  2. ^ a b "Bulletin du Statec n°6-2010". (in French) Retrieved 14 February 2011.
  3. ^ "La saison touristique 2010 : une stabilisation à bas niveau", Ministère des Classes moyennes et du Tourisme. (in French) Retrieved 14 February 2011.
  4. ^ Jennifer Blanke, Thea Chiesa, "The Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report 2011: Beyond the Downturn", World Economic Forum, ISBN 978-92-95044-18-0. Retrieved 8 March 2011.
  5. ^ "Grand Duchy of Luxembourg: Hot city, cool country" Archived 2011-02-06 at the Wayback Machine, National Tourist Office, Luxembourg. Retrieved 15 February 2011.
  6. ^ "Meeting Point Luxembourg", Ministère des Classes moyennes et du Tourisme, 2011. Retrieved 15 February 2011.