EU – Baltic States, Forum, Lithuania, Tourism

VTD Director Raimonda Balniene says that figures on incoming tourism from Germany look very promising, informs LETA/ELTA.

"In 2011, we welcomed the biggest share of German tourists compared to other Baltic States. The growth of German tourist flow in Lithuania was also the quickest with 23 percent. It would be no exaggeration to claim that Lithuania is Germany's most loved country in the Baltics," she says.

At the ITB travel show, Baltic States presented their tourism innovations. Estonia promoted itself as a nature tourism country, Latvians focused on their cultural tourism, while Lithuania stood out with its city, SPA and wellness tourism. City tourism aims at encouraging Germans to discover all Lithuania, not only limiting themselves to the Curonian Spit region where visitors from Germany account for 65 percent of all tourists. SPA and wellness tourism should reduce seasonality and attract German visitors to travel in Lithuania in low season. First results for this year indicate that 2012 will be no less successful to Lithuania's tourism sector in terms of German tourist flows. A record number of German guests is predicted in summer season, as ferry tickets to Lithuania for June and July are almost sold out.