Copenhagen's Tivoli Gardens is extending its Christmas season by four days into early January. The amusement park expects to welcome its 25 millionth Christmas visitor this year.
The Christmas season opens on November 14 and will now run through January 4. Recent years have seen over one million guests visit Tivoli during each Christmas season.
Tivoli's director Susanne Mørch Koch expressed enthusiasm about the extension. She said the extended season will enhance visitor experience and boost attendance numbers.
For many families, Christmas at Tivoli represents an annual tradition they return to year after year. The experience focuses on atmosphere, lights, traditions, and community.
Thousands of Danes visit us as a fixed tradition each year, Koch noted in a statement. We also welcome growing numbers of international guests seeking the special Tivoli Christmas experience.
This marks the second consecutive year Tivoli has extended its Christmas season. Last year's five-day extension was the first post-New Year opening in nine years.
Since its Christmas market launched in 1994, Tivoli has recorded 24 million Christmas visitors. The park anticipates reaching the 25 million milestone during this season.
Industry experts note Tivoli's Christmas market transformed Copenhagen's winter tourism. Hotel stays in Copenhagen during December have surged from just over 200,000 in 1994 to nearly 900,000 today.
Lars Ramme Nielsen, an industry director with Danish Business, sees clear connections between holiday travelers and Tivoli's Christmas offerings.
Christmas and holiday shopping have always been important in Copenhagen, he said. Streets like Strøget and Nyhavn along with Christmas exhibitions attracted many visitors.
But for Copenhagen's entire experience industry, Tivoli's 1994 Christmas market launch represented a giant leap forward, Nielsen explained.
Before Tivoli's Christmas market, few holiday travelers visited Copenhagen during the dark winter months. Today, Tivoli's seasonal events including Halloween, Easter, and especially Christmas serve as major magnets for the city's hotels, restaurants, taxis, and other experience providers.
The seasonal extension represents smart business strategy for Tivoli. Capitalizing on proven demand while enhancing visitor experience makes practical sense for one of Copenhagen's most iconic attractions.