Analytics, Baltic States – CIS, EU – Baltic States, Latvia, Statistics, Tourism

In 2018, 1.93 mln foreign visitors were hosted, which is 8.2% more than previous year, whereas the number of nights spent by them increased by 9.9%, reaching 3.74 mln. The majority of visitors came from Russia (259.0 thousand), Germany (225.9 thousand), Lithuania (190.9 thousand), Estonia (169.7 thousand), Finland (114.6 thousand) and the United Kingdom (108.3 thousand).

In 2018, significant increase was observed in the number of visitors coming from Ukraine (32.8%), Japan (20.2%), Poland (18.8%), France (16.5%), Denmark (15.8%) and Netherlands (15.2%).  There was a decrease in the number of foreign visitors from Norway (of 5.6%).

Out of the total number of foreign visitors, 23.4% or 658.0 thousand came from the neighbouring countries of Latvia – Russia (13.5%), Lithuania (9.9%), Estonia (8.8%) and Belarus (2.0%).

Out of all foreign visitors, majority (77.1%) stayed in Riga, 8.5% – in Jūrmala, 1.8% – in Liepāja, 1.6% – in Sigulda county and 1.4% – in Daugavpils.

In 2018, 883.4 thousand Latvian residents were hosted at tourist accommodation establishments, which is 10.7% more than in 2017, whereas the number of nights spent increased by 5.3%, constituting 1.63 mln.

Latvian residents stayed mostly in Riga (26.3% of visitors), Jūrmala (9.2%), Liepāja (7.4%), Daugavpils (4.2%), Ventspils (2.7%) and Sigulda county (2.6%).

Number of visitors hosted and nights spent at accommodation establishments

Over the 4th quarter of 2018, 555.4 thousand visitors were hosted at tourist accommodation establishments – 6.5% more than during the 4th quarter of the previous year. Visitors spent 1.1 mln nights which, compared to the same period of the previous year, is increase of 10.4%. The number of foreign visitors rose by 4.3%, amounting to 376.2 thousand.