Analytics, Good for Business, Latvia, LIVE RIGA, Tourism

Of which 66.6% were foreign tourists and 33.4% – residents of Latvia. Similar breakdown of visitors was also in the previous quarters. Increase in the number of foreign visitors comprised 17.3%, but in the number of Latvian travellers – 12.6% if compared to the 1^st quarter of the previous year.

The highest share of the foreign tourists stayed in Rīga – 83.4%, in Jūrmala – 7.6% and in Liepāja – 1.3%. The highest share of the Latvian travellers stayed in Rīga – 29.7%, in Jūrmala – 10.7% and in Liepāja – 8.3%.

Foreign visitors in hotels and other accommodation establishments by city and county, 1stquarter of 2014

Data source: Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia

In the 1^st quarter of 2014 the total number of overnight stays comprised 691.7 thsd, which is 3.0% more than in the 1^st quarter of 2013. Average length of stay of foreign visitors in the 1^stquarter comprised 2.0 nights.

At the end of the 1^st quarter 14.3 thsd rooms and 32.0 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 1^st quarter varied between 30% to 36%. The highest room occupancy was in January both in Latvia in general – 35.7%, and in Rīga – 43.8%. Analyzing hotel occupancy rate by stars granted, the highest room occupancy in this quarter was in Riga’s five-star hotels with 54.9% in January.

As compared to the 1^st quarter of the previous year, the number of tourists from neighbouring countries has increased: from Estonia – by 23.6%, from Russia – by 19.8%, from Belarus – by 19.3% and from Lithuania – by 12.7%, as well as significant increase in this quarter was observed for tourists from Poland – 44.8%, Germany – 37.6% and France – 24.5%. From countries mentioned and depicted below for the longest period of time in Latvian accommodation establishments stayed visitors from Belarus (3.8 nights), France (2.3 nights) and the Great Britain (2.0 nights).

Foreign visitors in hotels and other accommodation establishments by country, 1st quarter of 2014

Data source: Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia

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

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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.