In September 2021 the number of foreign and resident visitors comprised 149.6 thousand, which is 35.8 % more than in September 2020, but 38.4 % less than before the pandemic in September 2019.
As compared to September of the previous year, the number of nights spent by visitors comprised 263.7 thousand nights, which is 25 % more as compared to September last year, according to data from the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia.
In September 2021 the number of foreign visitors comprised 71.5 thousand, which is two times more than in September 2020, however, 58.4 % less than before the pandemic in September 2019. Compared to September last year, the number of nights spent by them has grown by 76.6 % and comprised 132.1 thousand. In turn, the number of Latvian visitors hosted, compared to September 2020, rose by 4.9 % and comprised 78.2 thousand. The number of nights spent by residents has dropped by 3.4 % and comprised 131.6 thousand.
In Q3 2021 the number of foreign and resident visitors in Latvian tourist accommodation establishments comprised 662 thousand, which is 6.7 % less than in Q3 2020, therefore 35.8 % less than before the pandemic in Q3 2019. As compared to Q3 the previous year, the number of nights spent by visitors has reduced by 10 % and comprised 1.2 million nights. Visitors spent an average of 1.8 nights at tourist accommodation establishments.
In Q3 2021 the number of foreign visitors comprised 262.4 thousand, which is 26.7 % less than in Q3 the previous year, and the number of nights spent by foreign visitors has decreased by 27.3 % and comprised 494.1 thousand night.
The majority of foreign visitors came from Lithuania (60.3 thousand, a drop of 50.3 %), Germany (41 thousand, a rise of 37.6 %), Estonia (34.9 thousand, a fall of 60.9 %), Poland (13.4 thousand, an increase of 82.3 %) and United Kingdom (11.4 thousand, a rise of 74 %).
Out of foreign visitors 39.7 % or 104.3 thousand came from neighbouring countries – Lithuania (23 %), Estonia (13.3 %), Russia (2.9 %) and Belarus (0.6 %).
Also in Q3 2021 the drop in the number of visitors from Lithuania, Estonia and Finland can be explained with the so-called Baltic bubble of last summer, within the framework of which last year the number of visitors from neighbouring countries and Finland increased significantly.
In Q3 2021 most foreign visitors were hosted in Riga – 65.3 %, Jūrmala – 12.7 %, Liepāja – 3.8 %, Ventspils – 2.6 % and Sigulda municipality – 1.9 %.
In Q3 2021 tourist accommodation establishments hosted 399.6 thousand of Latvian residents, which is 13.7 % more that in Q3 2020; the number of nights spent by residents has increased by 9.1 % and comprised 668 thousand.
Latvian visitors stayed mostly in Riga (15.4 %), Jūrmala (8.2 %), Liepāja (7.1 %), Cēsis municipality (5.8 %), Talsi municipality (5.1 %), Ventspils (4.5 %), Limbaži municipality (4.1 %), Tukums municipality (3.9 %) and Kuldīga municipality (3.8 %).
In the nine months of 2021, 1 million visitors stayed at Latvian tourist accommodation establishments, which is 18.7 % less than in the nine months of 2020 and 54.2 % less than in the nine months of 2019. In accommodation establishments visitors spent 1.9 million nights, which is 24.2 % less, compared to the corresponding period of the previous year, and 57 % less than in the nine month period of 2019.
Number of tourists visiting Latvia continues increasing
