The Reykjavík Tourist Information Center reported on a 30 percent increase in visitors in September, October and November of 2008, compared to the same months in 2007, and an increase of 43 percent in December compared to the previous year.
The Reykjavík Tourist Information Center. Photo by Páll Stefánsson.
Although the increase in tourists in Iceland during the entire year 2008 was lower than during the past decade, roughly three percent compared to the average eight, tourists seem to increasingly seek information on and book tours, accommodation and other service at tourist information centers.
This is in consistency with the development in tourism, both in Iceland and worldwide, that tourists are becoming more independent in organizing their travels and more spontaneous by booking trips short-term.
According to the Reykjavík Tourist Information Center, there is currently an unusually high number of foreign visitors, during a season that in previous years has been rather slow.
Tourists also seem to have shopped more in 2008 than 2007, judging by numbers from Iceland Refund on the repayment of VAT to foreign tourists.
VAT refunds increased by 194 percent in October and November last year compared to the same months in 2007 and by 400 percent in December 2008 compared to December the previous year.
Click here to read more about tourism in Iceland.
