In 2021, 38 % fewer foreign visitors and 16 % more resident visitors in tourist accommodation establishments

Data of the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) show that in 2021, tourist accommodation establishments in Latvia welcomed 1.3 million foreign and resident visitors, that is 10.7 % fewer than in 2020 and 54.2 % fewer than before the pandemic in 2019. The number of nights spent by visitors at tourist accommodation establishments comprised 2.4 million nights, down 17.6 % compared to the previous year.

Number of visitors hosted at accommodation establishments by months in 2019–2021 (thousand)

hotels

In 2021, 33.8 % of all visitors in tourist accommodation establishments, or 442.2 thousand, were foreign, down 38.2 % from 2020 and 77.3 % from pre-pandemic period in 2019. The number of nights spent by foreign visitors decreased by 42.6 % compared to last year and amounted to 863.4 thousand. The average length of stay of foreign visitors in tourist accommodation establishments was 2 nights.

The largest number of foreign visitors came from Lithuania (83.9 thousand), Germany (60.1 thousand), Estonia (53.7 thousand), the United Kingdom (23 thousand), Poland (22.4 thousand) and Russia (20.2 thousand).

Of the foreign visitors, 36.7 % or 162.1 thousand were from neighbouring countries - Lithuania (19 %), Estonia (12.1 %), Russia (4.6 %) and Belarus (1 %).

The highest share of foreign visitors was recorded in Riga - 72.3 %, Jūrmala - 9.3 %, Liepāja - 3.4 %, Ventspils - 1.8 % and Sigulda municipality - 1.6 %.

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In 2021, 864.4 thousand resident visitors of Latvia were accommodated in tourist accommodation establishments, which is 15.6 % more than in 2020. The number of nights spent by resident visitors was 1.5 million, an increase of 9.5 % compared to the previous year. The average length of stay of resident visitors in tourist accommodation establishments was 1.8 nights.

The most popular places to stay for resident visitors of Latvia were Riga, where 21.3 % of visitors stayed, Jūrmala - 10.1 %, Liepāja - 7.4 %, Cēsis municipality - 5.5 %, Kuldīga and Talsi municipality - 3.8 %, Ventspils - 3.4 %, Tukums and Sigulda municipality - 3.3 %.

Number of visitors and nights spent in tourist accommodation establishments

	2021		2020		Changes % (2021 / 2020)
	Number of visitors	Nights spent	Number of visitors	Nights spent	Number of visitors	Nights spent
TOTAL	1 306 588	2 379 777	1 462 965	2 889 342	-10.7	-17.6
residents of Latvia	864 400	1 516 390	747 990	1 385 037	15.6	9.5
foreign visitors	442 188	863 387	714 975	1 504 305	-38.2	-42.6
Lithuania	83 866	151 262	178 425	328 137	-53	-53.9
Germany	60 089	118 413	53 417	104 044	12.5	13.8
Estonia	53 710	92 146	137 423	227 991	-60.9	-59.6
United Kingdom	23 016	45 342	25 377	53 716	-9.3	-15.6
Poland	22 354	42 857	16 777	32 725	33.2	31
Russia	20 166	43 223	72 503	157 049	-72.2	-72.5
Finland	13 299	24 833	68 821	121 921	-80.7	-79.6
Italy	12 340	24 879	10 637	20 275	16	22.7
USA	12 104	23 756	8 582	16 164	41	47
France	12 021	23 297	8 312	15 515	44.6	50.2
Ukraine	11 591	27 768	11 251	27 959	3	-0.7
Sweden	10 171	19 714	11 963	51 691	-15	-61.9
Netherlands	9 602	17 693	8 281	15 868	16	11.5
Spain	8 077	14 943	3 951	8 120	2 times	84
Denmark	7 280	16 011	6 467	14 002	12.6	14.3
Norway	6 837	14 095	11 394	23 560	-40	-40.2

In December 2021, 92.8 thousand foreign and resident visitors were hosted in tourist accommodation establishments, that is 2.2 times more than in December last year, but 50.8 % less than in December 2019. Visitors spent 169.8 thousand nights in tourist accommodation establishments, that is an increase of 68.2 % compared to December last year, but a decrease of 54.1 % compared to December 2019.

In the 4th quarter of 2021, tourist accommodation establishments in Latvia welcomed 266.5 thousand foreign and resident visitors - that is 45.4 % more than in the same period a year ago. Visitors stayed 499 thousand nights in tourist establishments, and this represents an increase of 22.2 % compared to the same period a year ago. In the last quarter of the year the number of foreign visitors increased 2.9 times, reaching 114.1 thousand, while the number of resident visitors increased by 6.2 %, reaching 152.4 thousand.

Media requests:
Communication Section
E-mail: media@csp.gov.lv
Phone: +371 27880666

More information on data:
Ilze Ķerus
Transport and Tourism Statistics Section
E-mail: Ilze.Kerus@csp.gov.lv
Phone: +371 67366778