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

Of which 34.3% were residents of Latvia and 65.7% – foreign tourists. Previously share of visitors was similar. The number of foreign visitors grew by 9.3%, while number of Latvian visitors remained almost the same (decrease of 0.2%), if compared to the 1^st quarter of the previous year.

162.5 thsd or 82.1% of the total number of foreign visitors stayed in Riga, 7.0% – in Jurmala and 1.5% – in Liepaja. The highest share of the Latvian travellers stayed in Riga – 29.8%, Liepaja – 10.0% and Jurmala – 8.6%.

Foreign visitors in hotels and other accommodation establishments by city and county, 1st quarter of 2013

The total number of overnight stays in hotels and other accommodation establishments in the 1^st quarter reached 671.6 thsd, and it is 9.9% more than in the same period of previous year. Foreign visitors on average stayed 2.3 nights – 5% more than during the corresponding period of previous year. Compared to the same period of previous year it comprises increase of 5%.

At the end of the 1^st quarter 14.6 thsd rooms and 33.0 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.

Total room occupancy in Latvia in the first quarter of this year varied between 33% to 35%. The highest room occupancy was in March in Latvia in general – 35.2%, and in Riga – 44.4%. Analyzing hotel occupancy rate by stars granted, the highest room occupancy was in Riga’s five-star hotels with 53.1% in March.

As compared to the 1^st quarter of the previous year, the number of tourists from neighbouring countries has increased: from Belarus – by 41.8%, from Russia – by 24.6%, from Lithuania – by 22.8% and from Estonia – by 18.7%. From countries depicted below for the longest period of time in Latvian accommodation establishments stayed visitors from Belarus (4.2 nights), Norway (2.4 nights) and the Great Britain (2.4 nights).

Foreign visitors in hotels and other accommodation establishments by country, 1st quarter of 2013

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

_____________

¹ Every month CSB carries out survey on hotels and other accommodation establishments which compiles information on Latvian accommodation establishments, excluding State specialized sanatoriums and convalescent homes, which provide health care services for State.