Latvia welcomed 2.4 million visitors in 2023, which is 12.1 per cent more than in 2022, the country’s Central Statistical Bureau has revealed.
Of those, 1.4 million were international tourists, whereas one million amounted to resident visitors.
Despite an increase compared to 2022, the statistical office noted that the overall number of tourists is still 14.4 per cent less compared to 2019, the pre-pandemic year. However, the number of tourists coming from Lithuania and Estonia surpassed the 2019 figures.
In 2023, the number of visitors from neighbouring countries was larger than before the pandemic in 2019 – the number of visitors from Lithuania was 22.9 per cent larger, and from Estonia, 6.1 per cent larger.
In general, the majority of international tourists who visited Latvia last year were from countries as follows:
- Lithuania (257,500)
- Estonia (181,500)
- Germany (128,100)
- Finland (105,800)
- The United Kingdom (88,700)
- Poland (62,000)
- The United States (56,400)
- Sweden (44,000)
- Ukraine (39,300)
- Norway (37,100)
Due to the year-on-year growth in tourists, Latvia also witnessed an increase in overnight stays. More specifically, 2.4 million visitors spent a total of 4.4 million nights in Latvia in 2023, which is 12.6 per cent more than in 2022.
International tourists spent 2.6 million nights in Latvia, with the majority of them staying in Riga (70 per cent), followed by Jūrmala, Mārupe municipality, Liepāja, Sigulda municipality, Ventspils and Cēsis municipality.
On the other hand, resident visitors made 1.8 million overnight stays, with most of them (25 per cent) choosing accommodation in Riga as well. The rest of them stayed in Jūrmala, Liepāja, Cēsis municipality, Sigulda municipality, Daugavpils, and Valmiera municipality.
Meanwhile, in December alone last year, Latvia welcomed 167,100 tourists. Among them, 94,500 were international visitors, and 72,600 were domestic visitors. Both international and resident visitors spent 290,000 nights in the country during that month.
Compared to December 2022, both the number of visitors and overnight stays rose by 13 per cent and 10.7 per cent, respectively.
Apart from the increase in visitors, Latvia saw increased passenger traffic at Riga Airport (RIX). Last year, RIX returned to pre-pandemic levels, reaching 6.3 million passengers, with some months surpassing 2019 levels. Such a figure also marked a 23 per cent increase compared to 2022.
In addition to the rise in passenger traffic, RIX generated more revenues, with the company earning €5.3 million during the three quarters of 2023.
