Author: Ilze Ķerus
Source: csp.gov.lv
Data compiled by the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia show that in February 2024 the number of non-resident and resident arrivals at tourist accommodation establishments accounted for 130.5 thousand, which is 1.5 % more than in February 2023. As compared to February last year, the number of nights spent by visitors comprised 227.1 thousand, which is 1.6 % less.
In February 2024 non-resident arrivals at the tourist accommodation establishments accounted for 53.6 % or 69.9 thousand people, which is 0.2 % less than in February a year ago and 29.8 % fewer than before the pandemic in February 2020. The second reason, which still has a significant impact on the arrival of non-residents in Latvia, is Russia's war in Ukraine, which reduces the flow of tourists to Russia’s frontline states.
Reklāma
The number of nights spent by non-resident visitors, compared to February last year, has reduced by 2.7 % and comprised 126.2 thousand. Non-residents on average spent 1.8 nights at the tourist accommodation establishments1 (1.85 nights in February last year).
The majority of non-resident visitors came from Lithuania (14.7 thousand), Estonia (9.6 thousand), United Kingdom (5.6 thousand), Germany (5.2 thousand), Finland (3.4 thousand), Poland (2.9 thousand), Ukraine (2.5 thousand), Sweden (2.1 thousand) and USA (2 thousand).
Most non-resident visitors were hosted in Riga – 75.7 %, Jūrmala – 6.9 %, Mārupe municipality – 5.7 %, Liepāja – 2.8 %, Sigulda municipality – 1.4 % and Daugavpils – 1.3 %.
In February 2024 tourist accommodation establishments hosted 60.6 thousand Latvian visitors, which is 3.6 % more than in February 2023 and 7.4 % more than in February 2020 before the beginning of pandemic. The number of nights spent by them comprised 100.9 thousand, which is a drop of 0.3 %, compared to February last year. Residents on average spent 1.7 nights at the tourist accommodation establishments (1.7 nights in February last year).
Mostly residents stayed in Riga (32.3 %), Jūrmala (14.9 %), Liepāja (6.9 %), Daugavpils (4.6 %),Sigulda municipality (4.3 %), Cēsis municipality (3.5 %) and Valmiera municipality (3.4 %).
1 If a visitor spends the night in several places during the trip in Latvia, he/she is re-registered in each tourist accommodation.
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