Why was Iceland one of Europe’s hottest destinations in 2015?

Iceland was one of Europe's top destination in 2015. ― AFP pixLONDON, Feb 12 ― Iceland was the top-growing European destination in 2015, recording an impressive 30 per cent increase in international visits in 2015.

That's according to the latest figures released from the European Travel Commission (ETC), which also found that overall international arrivals to Europe grew by 5 per cent in 2015 over the year previous.

Iceland's chart-topping performance for 2015 marks the fourth consecutive year that the country was the leading European destination for growth: from 2012 to 2015, arrivals grew an average of 24 per cent per year and show no signs of slowing.

Visits from US tourists alone grew 60 per cent between 2014 and 2015.

Overall, analysts cite the strength of the US dollar against the euro, improved consumer confidence and falling oil prices for boosting travel to Europe.

But Iceland also owes much of its growth to innovative incentives drawn up by the country's flagship airline and their national tourist office, which have carved out a reputation for innovative tourism campaigns.

For example, Icelandair offers travellers the opportunity to stop over in Iceland and explore the country for up to seven nights, at no additional cost.

Last week, the carrier launched a Stopover Buddy Service that will pair travellers with an Icelandair employee, another free service that allows visitors to experience Iceland like a local. Activities are organised by theme such as nature, health, culture, food and adventure, and could include everything from mountain biking, running or knitting a woolly sweater together.

The National Park of Thingvellir in Iceland.Last year, the tourist office launched a cheeky campaign they called "the world's first human search engine," which invited visitors to ask a real-life Icelander any of their pressing travel questions. The#AskGudmundur campaign tapped all the Gudumundurs in Iceland ― the most common first name in the country ― to serve as tour guides.

And in 2011, the country's president Olafur Ragnar Grimsson famously invited tourists to a pancake breakfast at the presidential residence as part of a tourism campaign that encouraged locals to likewise open up their own homes and offer an authentic local travel experience to tourists.

Meanwhile, here are some other interesting statistics from the ETC's European Tourism 2015: Trends & Prospects" report.

― After Iceland, Romania saw a 17 per cent spike in international tourist arrivals in 2015, followed by Slovakia (16 per cent), Montenegro (15.5 per cent) and Ireland (14 per cent).

― Tourism fell in Bulgaria and Turkey (both down 1 per cent), Estonia (-3 per cent) and Finland (-5 per cent).

― The US accounted for 5 per cent of total arrivals to Europe in 2015.

― Europe saw a 30 per cent growth in Chinese arrivals to Europe.

― Cyprus was the fastest growing destination in 2015 among French visitors. ― AFP-Relaxnews

Source: Why was Iceland one of Europe's hottest destinations in 2015?