Foreign tourists choose Liepāja and Jūrmala, locals also go to Kuldīga, Ventspils and Roja
The number of foreign tourists in Latvia in May was 8 times lower than in January 2020, when most of the world read about Covid-19 only in foreign news. However, compared to the lowest point of inbound tourism - April last year - in May this year the number of tourists staying in Latvian tourist accommodations has been 5.7 times higher.
In May 2021, 72.4 thousand foreign and local guests were served in Latvian tourist accommodations, which is 2.4 times more than in May 2020 and 38.9% more than in April of this year, according to the Central Statistical Bureau. Guests spent 140.6 thousand nights in tourist accommodations, which is 81.4% more than in May last year and 35.9% more than in April this year.
In May 2021, 13.7 thousand foreign guests were served in tourist accommodations, which is 2.2 times more than in May 2020 and 60.5% more than in April. Most foreign guests came from Lithuania, Germany, Russia, Estonia and Sweden, the United Kingdom, Poland and France. In May 1385 tourists came to Latvia and spent the nights in tourist accommodations from Lithuania, 1265 from Germany, 1180 from Russia, 1024 from Estonia, 1013 from Sweden. Less than a thousand tourists in May came from the United Kingdom, Poland and France. Most foreign guests were received in Riga - 83%, Liepāja - 3.8% and Jūrmala - 3%.
In May 2021, 58.7 thousand inhabitants of Latvia were served in tourist accommodations establishments, which is 2.5 times more than in May 2020 and 34.7% more than in April of this year. The number of nights spent in tourist accommodations increased 2.1 times compared to May last year.
The most popular accommodation places for Latvian residents were in Riga, where 23% of guests stayed, in Jūrmala - 9.4%, in Liepāja - 8.6%, in Kuldīga municipality - 4.8%, in Daugavpils - 3.4%, in Sigulda municipality - 2.9% , In Ventspils - 2.7% and in Roja municipality - 2.6%.
Latvians travel more actively than foreigners
The data of SIA Latvijas mobilais telefons also show that the flow of foreign tourists and more active travel outside Latvia has gradually resumed in Latvia. “Covid-19 has left its mark on the behavior of telecommunications consumers both in Latvia and abroad. Remote work has stimulated the demand for mobile services abroad as well, proving that it is no longer so important whether a person works from home or from anywhere else in the world. Also, during the last year, we have experienced the recovery of several industries, which has facilitated travel for both private and professional purposes,” says Vīgants Radziņš, Director of LMT Business Development Department.
Looking at the activity of LMT customers abroad, the most popular destinations where Latvians used mobile data in June this year are Germany, Sweden, Lithuania, the Netherlands, and Estonia. Overall, mobile data consumption abroad has increased by 85% compared to June last year and, compared to June 2019, is even higher than before the pandemic.
A different situation is observed in the mobile data consumption habits of LMT foreign customers in Latvia: comparing June 2021 with June 2019, their amount has decreased by 36%, although it has increased by 6% compared to last year. This indicates that the flow of foreign tourism to Latvia has not yet reached pre-pandemic levels.
“In general, it can be concluded that the demand of LMT's foreign customers for mobile data in Latvia is gradually increasing, while the demand for the call service continues to decrease. Analyzing the activity of LMT customers abroad, a similar trend is observed, but the demand for mobile data abroad has significantly increased. This allows us to conclude that international tourism has revived among the Latvian population of active Internet users, however, the pandemic continues to affect the interest of foreign guests in Latvia,” points out Vīgants Radziņš.
Life is gradually returning to Riga Airport
In June of this year, 157.7 thousand passengers were served at Riga Airport, which is 2.8 times more than in June 2020 and by 85.1% more than in May of this year. The total number of flights in June was 3116, which is twice as many as a year earlier, according to the Central Statistical Bureau.
For the third month in a row, the number of passengers at Riga Airport has increased compared to both the previous month and the same month a year ago. In April, the passenger turnover increased 18 times, in May - 8.3 times, but in June - 2.8 times compared to the corresponding period of 2020.