In Luxembourg, the war in Iran does not seem to have any negative impact on the tourism sector for the moment. On the contrary, the Grand Duchy could even benefit from it, estimated Wednesday morning Sebastian Reddeker, CEO of Luxembourg for Tourism, on RTL.
According to him, the very structure of Luxembourg tourism constitutes an advantage in the current geopolitical context. Around 90% of tourists coming to Luxembourg are European, and the vast majority travel by car or train, without relying on air transport. Customers from more distant markets, notably the Middle East, however, play a marginal role for Luxembourg.
3.6 million nights
Last year, Luxembourg recorded 3.6 million overnight stays and 1.6 million arrivals, a new record. For 2026, an increase of up to 2% is expected. No marked negative trend is observed at this stageaccording to the CEO of Luxembourg for Tourism.
Regarding the Easter weekend, the most recent figures were still slightly lower than those for 2025, but these data were collected before the start of the war in Iran. On the other hand, reservations for April and June are already higher than those recorded for the same months last year.
For Sebastian Reddeker, Luxembourg has a favorable positioning in the current context: a close, accessible and safe destination. Even if security is not necessarily highlighted in tourist brochures, today it plays a central role in the choice of a trip.
According to him, this is even one of the main values of the Visit Luxembourg brand, in which significant investments have been made in recent years.
The CEO of Luxembourg for Tourism also underlined that the Grand Duchy has, in its immediate environment, a pool of 12 million potential customers.
An average length of stay of 2.4 nights
On average, tourists stay 2.4 nights in the country. The majority of visitors come from neighboring countries, led by the Netherlands, followed in particular by Germany, Belgium and France.
The camping sector also continues to play an important role. Sebastian Reddeker recalled that campsites are often a good indicator of the general attractiveness of the countryincluding its rural regions. He recalled that more than 300,000 Dutch people came to Luxembourg in 2024 to go camping.
In recent years, the sector has invested heavily in its infrastructure, which is reflected in both occupancy rates and customer satisfaction.
He also underlined that seasonality is today less marked than before: around a third of the annual customer base comes outside the traditional high season.
What visitors are looking for in Luxembourg
Nature remains an important driver of tourism in Luxembourg, notably thanks to investments made in hiking infrastructure. Many visitors come to enjoy the scenery and walk.
But urban tourism also constitutes a major pillar. “Sightseeing†, particularly in Luxembourg City, is very popular. For many visitors, the capital represents the first gateway to the country. Those who return then discover more often the other regions of the Grand Duchy.
In addition to nature and urban tourism, Sebastian Reddeker highlighted segments that he considers particularly interesting economically: cultural tourism and gastronomic tourism. These visitors spend more on average, he explained, believing that the potential of cultural tourism could still be further developed.
Travel remains a priority
The CEO of Luxembourg for Tourism also insisted on the fact that travel now occupies a very important place in the hierarchy of consumer needs. According to him, people today are less inclined than in the past to give up traveling. Two factors can, however, slow down this desire: the financial situation and the security of the destination.
Business tourism has regained its balance
Business tourism and conference tourism, long considered pillars of the sector in Luxembourg, have had more difficulty restarting after the pandemic. For a time, it was mainly leisure tourism which made it possible to occupy the available capacities. The situation has since rebalanced.
Sebastian Reddeker recalled that business tourism remains an important pillar in Luxembourg, even if leisure tourism remains more important.
A potentially favorable context in Luxembourg
For Sebastian Reddeker, if price increases remain contained and if inflation does not weigh too heavily on households, Luxembourg could benefit from the current geopolitical situation thanks to its tourist structure: a close, reassuring, accessible destination and well positioned to welcome a European clientele in search of security.
