COVID-19 impact: number of visitors in accommodation establishments
According to the data of the Central Statistical Bureau, in 2022 the number of foreign* and resident visitors comprised 2.2 million, which is 66.2 % more than in 2021, but 23.9 % less than before the pandemic in 2019. The number of nights spent by visitors has increased by 63.2 % and comprised 3.9 million nights.
In 2022 the number of foreign visitors out of all visitors in accommodation establishments comprised 52.4 % or 1.1 million, which is 2.6 times more than in 2021, however this is still 41.5 % less than in 2019 before the pandemic. The number of nights spent by foreign visitors, compared to last year, has grown 2.4 times and comprised 2.1 million. Foreign visitors spent an average of 1.9 nights at tourist accommodation establishments.
The majority of foreign visitors came from Lithuania (219.1 thousand), Estonia (152.2 thousand), Germany (107.6 thousand), Finland (74.6 thousand), United Kingdom (73.6 thousand), Poland (46 thousand) and Ukraine (42.9 thousand). In 2022, a record number of guests from Lithuania was hosted – it was 4.6 % larger than before the pandemic in 2019.
Out of foreign visitors 36.9 % or 420.8 thousand came from neighbouring countries – Lithuania (19.2 %), Estonia (13.4 %), Russia (3.3 %) and Belarus (1 %).
Most foreign visitors were hosted in Riga – 70.6 %, Jūrmala – 9.8 %, Liepāja – 3.3 %, Mārupe municipality – 2.4 %, Sigulda municipality – 1.8% and Ventspils – 1.6 %.
In 2022 tourist accommodation establishments hosted 1 million Latvian visitors, which is 19.5 % more than in 2021 and 13.9 % more than in 2019. The number of nights spent by them comprised 1.8 million, and it rose by 16.7 %, compared to last year. Resident visitors spent an average of 1.7 nights at tourist accommodation establishments.
Latvian visitors stayed mostly in Riga (23.8 %), Jūrmala (11.5 %), Liepāja (6.3 %), Cēsis municipality (5.3 %), Sigulda municipality (4.7 %), Kuldīga municipality (3.4 %) and Talsi municipality (3.2 %).
In December 2022 the number of foreign and resident visitors in Latvian tourist accommodation establishments comprised 147.9 thousand, which is 59.4 % more than in December 2021 and 21.6 % less than in December 2019. In accommodation establishments visitors spent 262 thousand nights, which is 54.3 % more, compared to December last year, but 29.2 % less than in December 2019.
In the 4th quarter of 2022 the number of foreign and resident visitors in Latvian tourist accommodation establishments comprised 462.1 thousand, which is 73.4 % more than in the same period a year ago. Visitors spent 830.7 thousand nights, which, compared to the corresponding period a year ago, is a rise of 66.5 %. In the last quarter of the year, the number of foreign visitors increased 2.2 times and comprised 255.4 thousand, but the number of resident visitors rose by 35.7 % and comprised 206.8 thousand.
*where possible, refugees from Ukraine are not included in the number of foreign visitors in accordance with the common guidelines of the methodology on tourism statistics of European Statistical Office Eurostat.
Media requests:
Communication Section
E-mail: media@csp.gov.lv
Phone: +371 27880666
More information on the data:
Ilze Ķerus
Transport and Tourism Statistics Section
E-mail: Ilze.Kerus@csp.gov.lv
Phone: +371 67366778