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

Compared to 2013, the share of travellers increased by 16.1%.

Compared to 2013, the number of Latvian residents who went on recreational trips within the territory of Latvia, as well as abroad grew by 2.1%. The number of travellers who went on foreign trips only dropped by 6.2%.

The main reason why people chose not to go on a recreational trip was lack of funds, which was indicated by 49.9% of the people who did not travel. In turn, 50.4% aged over 65 could not travel due to health condition or limited mobility.

Latvian residents went on recreational trips within the territory of Latvia 10.8 mln times in 2014, which is 5.3% less than in 2013. The number of domestic same-day recreational trips in 2014 declined by 9.1%. In turn, the number of overnight recreational trips around Latvia grew by 5.2%, reaching 3.2 mln trips in 2014.

Latvian residents during their recreational trips around Latvia spent on average 14.3 euros a day, which is 17.8% less than in 2013. The number of nights spent in recreational trips around Latvia grew by 18.7%, reaching 8.2 mln nights. The average length of an overnight recreational trip within the territory of Latvia was 2.6 days (in 2013 – 2.3 days).

The most popular destination for overnight recreational trips was Pierīga (29.0% of trips) and Kurzeme (20.4%).

Number of foreign recreational and business trips in 2014

Latvian residents went on foreign trips (both recreational and business trips) 1.8 mln times in 2014, which is 3.9% more than in 2013.  The number of foreign overnight trips grew by 9.3%, and the number of nights spent – by 8.9%. In turn, the average duration of a foreign trip as compared to 2013 remained the same – 6.4 nights. Travellers during their foreign trips spent on average 54.6 euros a day, which is 2.7% less than in 2013.

The most popular destinations for overnight foreign trips were Lithuania (11.4% of all trips), Russia (10.1%), Estonia (7.0%) and Germany (7.0%).

In 2014, the number of trips to Russia decreased by 14.7%; in turn, growth was recorded in the number of trips to Lithuania (of 26.6%), Belarus (21.9%) and Poland (20.2%).

Of all foreign overnight trips, 52.8% were recreational trips, 25.9% – visits to friends and relatives, 12.1% – business trips, 9.2% – other personal trips. The number of foreign overnight recreational trips grew by 29.4%. The average length of a recreational trip in 2014 was 6.2 nights, which is 12.7% more as compared to to the previous year.

To go on their foreign overnight trips 45.0% of travellers used an aircraft, 29.0% – a car, 13.5% – a bus, 8.5% – a ship, 2.8% – a train, 1.2% – other modes of transport. In 2014 as compared to the previous year, the number of travellers who used an aircraft grew by 7 percentage points, while the number of travellers who used a car decreased by 5 percentage points.

More information on the survey results and methodology is available in the CSB database Tourism.

¹Latvian residents who have reached 15 years of age and live in private households.

² A trip outside the usual environment, main aim of which is to spend a weekend, holidays or vacation, visiting summer cottage or garden house, participating in an excursion, attending theatre, SPA health resort without doctor's order, etc.