Hospitality and tourism

An appealing destination for growth

In Helsingborg, the visitor economy contributes strongly to turnover, employment and growth. It also supports other sectors by strengthening the city’s ability to attract talent, investment and new residents.

In 2025, guest nights exceeded 921,000—the highest level ever recorded in Helsingborg. Around 80% came from domestic travellers and 20% from international visitors. Since 2010, guest nights have increased by 66%, spread across roughly 2,000 beds.

Denmark, Germany and the United States are the largest international markets. Day trips from Denmark are particularly important, supporting both retail and the restaurant sector.

Economic impact

According to the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth, inbound tourism generates more than SEK 6 billion in annual spending in Helsingborg. Hotels and restaurants alone account for around SEK 3 billion in annual turnover.

The visitor economy also creates clear spillover effects in retail, transport, culture, real estate and services, making it an important part of Helsingborg’s wider business landscape and growth.

Employment and skills

The sector employs close to 4,000 people and plays an important role in the labour market. It provides many entry-level jobs, helping people establish themselves in the workforce, build experience and move on to other parts of the economy over time.

Skills development is well supported locally. Helsingborg offers education at several levels, from upper secondary hospitality and tourism programmes to academic education and research in Service Management at Lund University, Campus Helsingborg. This creates a strong pipeline for long-term skills supply.

Events and attractions

Helsingborg has a long track record of hosting national and international sporting and cultural events, as well as major conferences and exhibitions. A broad mix of culture, events, restaurants and experiences strengthens the city’s appeal to both businesses and residents.

The visitor economy not only supports its own development but also contributes to labour market integration, talent attraction and long-term growth across Helsingborg’s wider economy.

Facts

Largest companies: Scandic, Winn Hotel Group, SSRS Marina AB, Hotel Mollberg, SeaU

Companies in Helsingborg: 600

Employees in Helsingborg: 3,780

Employees in Familjen Helsingborg: 9,140