Last year the number of foreign visitors in Latvia was even smaller than in 2020
In 2021 Latvia was visited by 1.9 million foreign visitors, a decrease of 39.5 %, compared to 2020. According to the data of the Central Statistical Bureau, compared to 2020, their total expenditure reduced by 25 % and comprised EUR 179.9 million. The majority of visitors came from Lithuania (569 thousand), Estonia (371 thousand), Russia (245 thousand), Germany (91 thousand), the United Kingdom (88 thousand) and Ukraine (75 thousand).
The number of visits of Baltic neighbours reduced significantly – from Lithuania it fell by 57.6 %, but from Estonia – by 53.1 %. In 2020 travelling around Baltic States was mitigated by creating the so-called “Baltic bubble”, but in 2021, along with vaccination opportunities and improvement of epidemiological situation, neighbouring travellers preferred other destinations.
Same-day travellers
In 2021, compared to 2020, the number of same-day trips reduced by 43.2 % to 1.5 million trips, but expenditure fell by 63.4 % and comprised EUR 34.5 million. The number of same-day travellers last year reduced more than that of overnight travellers.
The average expenditure of same-day travellers last year comprised EUR 23.7 per trip (in 2020 – EUR 36.7), falling by 35.6 %.
The largest number of same-day travellers arrived in Latvia from Lithuania – 502.7 thousand or 34.5 % of the total number of same-day travellers. The second greatest number of same-day travellers was from Estonia – 325.8 thousand or 22.3 %, but the third largest – from Russia – 169.8 thousand (11.6 %). Compared to 2020, the number of same-day travellers from Lithuania fell by 55.7 %, from Estonia – by 53.5 %, but from Russia – by 21.1 %. In turn, the number of same-day travellers from Ukraine doubled and reached 61.3 thousand (In 2020 – 30.2 thousand).
65.9 % of all same-day travellers crossed Latvian border in transit. As compared to 2020, transit expenditure increased by 17.3 % reaching EUR 15.5 million. The second largest number of expenditures had been made by those same-day travellers, who visited Latvia with a purpose to make purchases (EUR 8.8 million).
Last year the share of same-day travellers who crossed Latvian border by plane increased to 39.6 % (in 2020 – 17 %), as the number of flights rose. In turn, the share of those who crossed Latvian border by car fell to 60.4 % (in 2020 – 77.9 %), as the number of same-day travellers from neighbouring countries reduced significantly.
Overnight travellers
In 2021 Latvia was visited by 477.6 thousand overnight travellers, 24.9 % less than in 2020, however, total expenditure reached the amount of 2020 and comprised EUR 145.4 million. Average expenditure of overnight travellers increased by 33.1 %, reaching EUR 304.3 (in 2020 – EUR 228.7). Compared to the year before, the total number of nights spent fell by 1.4 %, comprising 2.8 million nights. Average length of a stay during a trip rose by 31.2 %, reaching 6 nights.
111.5 thousand or 23.3 % of all overnight travellers in Latvia arrived from Lithuania and Estonia. 75.6 thousand or 15.8 % arrived from Russia, while 70.1 thousand or 14.7 % arrived from the United Kingdom.
In 2021 both the number of travellers and their expenditures continued to reduce due to COVID-19 pandemic, however, from some countries there were more visitors than the year before. The number of travellers from the United Kingdom increased by 39.6 %, reaching 70.1 thousand, and on average they spent 10.4 nights during the trip. Such growth is possibly explained with Covid-19 vaccination opportunities, as well as significant diaspora of the Latvian population in the United Kingdom. Also, the number of overnight travellers from Germany, Ukraine and Sweden in 2021 was larger than in 2020.
168.8 thousand or 35.3 % of overnight travellers came to Latvia to visit relatives and friends. Average length of stay of such trip rose by 33.9 %, reaching 10.3 nights.
Average length of stay of overnight travellers visiting Latvia for schooling or studying purposes increased significantly – in 2021 travellers with such purpose stayed in Latvia on average 34.8 nights (in 2020 – on average 15 nights).
Characteristics of foreign travellers in 2011–2021
| Number of border crossings, thousand | Total expenditure of persons crossing border, million EUR | Number of border crossings by overnight travellers, thousand | Nights spent by overnight travellers, thousand | Average length of trip, nights |
2011 | 5 538 | 540.0 | 1 493 | 6 126 | 4.1 |
2012 | 5 569 | 545.8 | 1 435 | 5 799 | 4.0 |
2013 | 5 822 | 608.4 | 1 536 | 7 017 | 4.6 |
2014 | 6 246 | 668.5 | 1 843 | 7 828 | 4.2 |
2015 | 6 842 | 742.2 | 2 024 | 8 154 | 4.0 |
2016 | 6 797 | 726.1 | 1 793 | 8 776 | 4.9 |
2017 | 7 726 | 748.2 | 1 949 | 8 865 | 4.5 |
2018 | 7 775 | 751.9 | 1 946 | 7 864 | 4.0 |
2019 | 8 342 | 806.3 | 1 935 | 8 266 | 4.3 |
2020 | 3 204 | 239.7 | 636 | 2 889 | 4.5 |
2021 | 1 937 | 179.9 | 478 | 2 847 | 6.0 |
From 1996 to 2021 survey on foreign travellers was financed by the Bank of Latvia. In 2022 the financing has been terminated and other data sources for comprehensive assessment of incoming tourism are being considered.
Media requests:
Communication Section
E-mail: media@csp.gov.lv
Phone: +371 67366621, +371 27880666
More information on data:
Transport and Tourism Statistics Section
Agnese Šaltene
E-mail: Agnese.Saltene@csp.gov.lv
Phone: +371 67366608
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