Analytics, Baltic States – CIS, EU – Baltic States, Good for Business, Latvia, Tourism

Similar as in previous quarters, out of all visitors 65.1% were foreign visitors and 34.9% – residents of Latvia. Increase in the number of foreign visitors comprised 1.0% and in the number of Latvian travellers – 8.3% if compared to the 1^st quarter of 2014.

The highest share of the foreign visitors stayed in Riga – 83.5%, in Jūrmala – 7.0% and in Liepāja – 1.2%, in Sigulda county, Daugavpils and Bauska county – 0.8% of visitors in each. The highest share of the Latvian residents stayed in Riga – 30.9%, in Jūrmala – 11.8% and in Liepāja – 7.4%, as well as in Ventspils – 5.9%, in Daugavpils – 4.0% and in Sigulda county – 3.9%.

In the 1^st quarter of 2015 the total number of nights spent in accommodation establishment comprised 693.7 thsd, which is 0.3% more than in the 1^st quarter of 2014. Average length of stay of foreign visitors in the 1^st quarter of 2015 comprised 2.0 nights.

At the end of the 1^st quarter of 2015, 15.1 thsd rooms and 34.2 thsd beds were available in the accommodation establishments. Number of rooms and beds not available in low season is not included in the total number.

Foreign visitors in Latvian hotels and other accommodation establishments by country, 1st quarter of 2015

Data source: Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia

The highest hotel room occupancy in the 1^st quarter of 2015 was in March – on average in Latvia – 36.3%, but in Riga – 44.1%. The highest hotel occupancy rate was in Riga’s four-star hotels – 51.0%, five-star hotels – 49.4%, but in three-star hotels – 32.8%.

In the 1^st quarter of 2015 as compared to the 1^st quarter of 2014, the number of tourists from neighbouring countries has increased: from Lithuania – by 19.5%, from Belarus – by 8.0%, from Estonia – by 3.3%, but the number of visitors from Russian Federation continues to reduce – in this quarter it dropped by 40.0%. Visitors from neighbouring countries comprised 45.0% of the total number of foreign visitors.

Starting Latvian Presidency in the European Union Council, number of visitors from Belgium has doubled (by 141.0%). Also the number of visitors from the United Kingdom (by 49.3%), Denmark (38.2%), the Netherlands (36.7%) and France (32.8%) has risen. From the countries mentioned visitors from Belarus on average stayed the most in Latvian accommodation establishments – 3.2 nights.

Number and changes in the number of foreign visitors in Latvian hotels and other accommodation establishments, 1st quarter of 2014 and 2015

More detailed information on the results of the survey and methodology is available in the CSB database in section "Tourism".