Three years of the Covid pandemic made Europe lose tourists due to lockdowns. After WHO announced the pandemic is over back in May 2023, Europe has started to see a new light. A recent report by France24 said that the tourist numbers in Europe in the second quarter of 2023 were at 95% of what they were in 2019. 

Brian Garrod, a professor of marketing specializing in tourism at Swansea University said, “The tourism industry’s been really selling holidays pretty hard this year. There’s also been a lot of pent-up demand from people who couldn’t travel in 2021 and in 2022 were a little bit nervous – 2023 has been the big return.” 

Popular TV shows made a huge impact on Europe tourism this year. Dubrovnik in Croatia is one of the most popular cities as it was the shooting location for Game of Thrones. Tourists were roaming down the street, capturing moments of the marvellous architecture.

Paris has been one of the most popular cities in Europe, but it became even more popular after Netflix’s Emily in Paris became a huge hit. Many tourists come to Paris to have the ‘Emily in Paris tour’ where they visit the filming locations.

Palermo, Sicily also became the tourists’ favourite place this year, due to The White Lotus’ fame. Just like Dubrovnik and Paris, tourists came to Sicily to visit the filming locations. 

Schengen trip preparation

To visit Europe, you need a lot of preparation. If you’re a U.S. citizen, you don’t need a Schengen visa, unless you’re staying in Europe for more than 90 days. 

Europe consists of small countries, but it’s still a huge continent. If you want to make the most of your trip, make a detailed daily itinerary. For instance, you need to list down the place to stay, the things you’re going to do, and the food you’re going to eat for the day. By making a detailed daily itinerary, you won’t get lost and confused about what to do and where to go.

When the itinerary is done, book the plane ticket, hotel, or even transportation tickets early, especially during the summer. If you’re planning to go to a few cities or countries during the trip, it is recommended to book the bus or train tickets beforehand. 

Don’t forget to pack enough clothes for the trip. Pack the clothes that are appropriate to the season. If you’re planning to go during the autumn or winter, pack long sleeves and a jacket. However, try not to pack too much because you might need some extra space for the stuff you buy in Europe. 

Remember to always pack the essentials for your phone or laptop, such as a charger, because you will need it during your stay. Don’t forget to download navigation apps before boarding the plane because the apps will be very helpful, especially if you can’t speak the native language of the country you visit.

To go around the city or country using navigation apps, you will need a stable internet connection like using eSIM when you travel Europe without any hidden charges. Unlike the option to use a local provider’s SIM card, you don’t need to change your WhatsApp number when you use eSIM.

Tourists to pay for tourist tax in 2024

Global travellers may want to hasten their trip to Europe soon as it’s been reported that tourists need to pay tourist tax when visiting Europe in 2024. But don’t worry, it’s still affordable compared to what you will experience in Europe. 

ETIAS said that in 2024, when someone visits Europe, they need to request permission before they travel through an online process, including US citizens. This permission will cost €7 but tourists can come and go after that without paying for up to three years or until the passport expires. 

Interestingly, Barcelona already applied this tourist tax back in 2012. In this country, visitors had to pay for the regional tourist tax and an extra city-wide surcharge. However, the cost was increased in April 2023. The fee was €2.75. It is also reported that the tax will increase once more in April 2024 to €3.25.

Portugal will also introduce a tourist tax in 2024. Tourists that visit Valencia will have to pay between 50 Cent and €2 per night. Meanwhile, tourists who come to Olhao will have to two euros per night between April and October. However, if the tourists come between November and March, the tax is reduced to €1.