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

In 2017, 1.39 million domestic tourists and 2.15 million foreign tourists used the services of accommodation establishments. There were 9% more domestic tourists and 5% more foreign tourists staying in accommodation establishments than in 2016. Compared to the previous year, tourist numbers from most of the European Union countries increased. There were also more tourists from Russia and Asian countries. The number of Finnish tourists, who accounted for 42% of the total number of foreign tourists in accommodation establishments, decreased by 4% compared to 2016. 72% of the foreign tourists who stayed in accommodation establishments were on holiday, 21% on a business trip and the rest had some other reason for visiting Estonia. 64% of domestic tourists were on holiday and 23% on a business trip.

In December 2017, 270,000 domestic and foreign tourists stayed in accommodation establishments, which is 6% more than in December 2016. 157,000 foreign tourists stayed in accommodation establishments, which was 4% more than in December 2016. 73% of foreign tourists arrived from EU countries, 17% from Russia and 3% from Asian countries. The number of tourists from the European Union countries remained at the level of December last year, 15% more tourists came from Russia and 10% more from Asian countries. 124,000 foreign tourists, i.e. 79% of the foreign tourists who used accommodation services, stayed in the accommodation establishments of Tallinn. Most (71%) of the foreign tourists were on holiday, 22% on a business trip and the rest had some other reason for visiting Estonia. 113,000 domestic tourists i.e. 9% more than in December 2016 used the services of accommodation establishments.

In December 2017, 966 accommodation establishments offered their services. 20,000 rooms and 45,000 bed places were available for tourists, 41% of the rooms and 34% of the bed places were occupied. The average cost of a guest night was 37 euros, remaining at the level of December 2016.

Today, on 6 February at 11.00, the Enterprise Estonia and Statistics Estonia will give a joint press conference where the economic results and statistics of the tourism sector in 2017 will be reviewed. The press conference will be held at Tallinn Airport, room Zeppelin (2nd floor of the terminal).

The statistics are based on the questionnaire “Accommodation”, the submission deadline of which was 10 January 2018. Statistics Estonia published the monthly summary in 18 working days. For the statistical activity “Accommodation”, the main representative of public interest is the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, commissioned by whom Statistics Estonia collects and analyses the data necessary for conducting the statistical activity.