This collection covers internal tourism, in other words tourism flows within the country (domestic tourism) or from abroad to destinations in the country (inbound tourism). It only covers flows by tourist who stay at rented accommodation (with limitations of the scope, see further), and is therefore also known as "accommodation statistics".

Alternatively, this part of tourism statistics is sometimes referred to as "the supply side".

Accommodation statistics are a key part of the system of tourism statistics in the EU and have a long history of data collection. Annex I of Regulation (EU) 692/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council deals with accommodation statistics and includes 4 sections focusing on accommodation statistics, of which sections 1 and 2 include the requirements concerning rented accommodation (capacity and occupancy respectively).

Data are collected by the competent national authorities of the Member States (generally the national statistical institute) and are compiled according to harmonised concepts and definitions and recommended methodological guidelines, before transmission to Eurostat. Most countries collect the data via sample or census surveys, sometimes in an automated manner. However, in a few cases data are compiled from a demand-side perspective (i.e. via visitor surveys or border surveys). Surveys on the occupancy of accommodation establishments are generally conducted on a monthly basis.