An important indication of the dimension of tourism in the wadden region is the number of overnight stays. In the international tidal region, the total capacity for resident facilities ('beds') in the mid 1990s was estimated at 53 million. The principle growth in this period occurred in Germany. The number of beds remained more or less stable in the Netherlands and Denmark.
The tourist season has been considerably extended since vacations are taken more often, yet for shorter periods. One often hears: "It is no longer peaceful on the island from the spring vacation up through the autumn vacation."
Even the number of day visits form an indication of the intensity of tourism. In Schleswig-Holstein, the number of day visits is estimated at 11.2 million per year. The number of day visits in the Danish wadden region was estimated at 2.8 million in 1995. Of these numbers, two million day visits took place on the island of Rømø, which is connected to the mainland by a dam.
All together, the tourist sector in the Dutch tidal region in 1997 accounted for 30,000 jobs and a total income close to 800 million euros per year.
On various islands, there is a strict control of houses meant for permanant habitation being rented to tourists. The reason is to free houses in order to solve the problem of lack of living space on the islands.
In the wadden region, disturbances caused by recreation and tourism is avoided as much as possible by offering good information about the region and applying a limited number of regulations for sensitive areas. Therefore, the number of paths in the dunes and on salt marshes will not be expanded and disturbance of nesting areas will be reduced. Gas, water and electrical pipelines to the islands and the Halligs must be laid with a minimum of environmental damage. Negative effects for wet dune valleys due to exploiting drinking water must be avoided. The rapid accelerating water recreation (speed boats, jetskis, hoovercraft) has been commited to strict rules.
