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

Of which 68.6% were foreign tourists and 31.4% – residents of Latvia. Similar breakdown of visitors was also in the previous quarters. Increase in the number of foreign visitors comprised 11.1%, but in the number of Latvian travellers – 11.8% if compared to the 3rd quarter of the previous year.

Visitors in hotels and other accommodation establishments in breakdown by city and county, 3rd quarter of 2014, foreign visitors

Data source: Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia

The highest share of the foreign tourists stayed in Rīga – 72.9%, in Jūrmala – 10.0% and in Ventspils – 3.0%. The highest share of the Latvian residents stayed in Rīga – 17.7%, Ventspils – 7.4% and Liepāja – 7.0%.

Visitors in hotels and other accommodation establishments in breakdown by city and county, 3rd quarter of 2014, foreign visitors, Latvian population

Data source: Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia

In the 3^rd quarter of 2014 the total number of nights spent in accommodation establishment comprised 1.55 mln, which is 13.5% more than in the 3^rd quarter of 2013. Average length of stay of foreign visitors in the 3^rd quarter comprised 2.1 night.

At the end of the 3^rd quarter 16.1 thsd rooms and 38.9 thsd beds were available in accommodation establishments. Number of rooms and beds not available in low season is not included in the total number.

Total room occupancy in the 3^rd quarter was 54% to 69%. The highest room occupancy was in July both in Latvia in general – 69.2%, and in Rīga – 78.9%. Analysing hotel occupancy rate by stars granted, the highest room occupancy in the 3^rd quarter was in Riga’s four-star hotels with 84.4% in July.

As compared to the 3^rd quarter of the previous year, the number of tourists from neighbouring countries has increased: from Belarus – by 29.9%, from Lithuania – by 9.6% and from Estonia – by 8.1%. But the number of tourists from the Russian Federation has dropped by 14.2%. Visitors from neighbouring countries comprised 34.9% of the total number of foreign visitors. Significant increase in this quarter was observed in the number of visitors from Japan – 63.5%, the United Kingdom – 59.6%, Turkey – 37.6%, Austria– 32.9% and Germany – 31.5%. From countries mentioned and depicted below for the longest period of time in Latvian accommodation establishments stayed visitors from Belarus (2.5 nights), Russian Federation (2.5 nights) and the United Kingdom (2.2 nights).

Foreign visitors in hotels and other accommodation establishments by country, 3rd 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.