Tourist arrivals in January provide a glimmer of hope before the peak Latvian tourism season commences
In the first month of 2025, Latvia's tourism industry experienced a significant boost, with an increase in both the number of visitors and the nights spent at tourist accommodation establishments.
According to the latest statistics, the top three destinations for non-resident visitors were Jūrmala (5.1%), Mārupe municipality (4.5%), and Liepāja (2.1%). Meanwhile, most residents chose to stay in Riga (32.8%), Jūrmala (14.5%), Liepāja (7%), Daugavpils (4.7%), Cēsis municipality (3.9%), Valmiera municipality (3.3%), and Sigulda municipality (3.1%).
On average, Latvian residents spent 1.6 nights at tourist accommodation establishments in January 2025, the same as in January the previous year. However, the number of nights spent by Latvian residents increased by 3.7% to 101.2 thousand, compared to January 2024. The number of Latvian residents who visited tourist accommodation establishments also rose by 2.2%, with 62.5 thousand residents visiting in January 2025.
Non-resident visitors, on the other hand, spent an average of 1.8 nights at tourist accommodation establishments, the same as in January last year. The total number of nights spent by non-residents increased by 30.3%, with non-residents spending 156.4 thousand nights in January 2025, compared to the same period in 2024.
The average room occupancy rate of hotels and similar accommodation in Latvia rose by 4.8 percentage points, with an occupancy rate of 31.2% in January 2025. In Riga, the average room occupancy rate was even higher at 38.4%, marking an increase of 7.6 percentage points, compared to January 2024.
The total number of visitors (resident and non-resident) increased by 15.6%, with 147.8 thousand visitors in January 2025, compared to the same period in 2024. A significant 57.7% of all visitors were non-resident visitors, an increase of 27.8% compared to January last year.
The top 9 countries from which non-resident visitors came in January 2025 were Lithuania, Estonia, the United Kingdom, Germany, Finland, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, and the USA. However, more specific data on the ranking of these countries and the comparison of the number of nights spent by non-residents in Latvia between January 2025 and January 2024 can only be found from the official Latvian tourism authority or statistical bureau.
For those interested in exploring historical trends or finding the latest monthly tourism statistics, the official Latvian tourism authority or statistical bureau would be the best source of information.
The increase in tourism industry profits in Latvia during January 2025 can be attributed to an upsurge in travel, as depicted by the rise in both the number of visitors and the nights spent at tourist accommodation establishments. This trend is demonstrated by the data, showing an increased interest in popular destinations such as Jūrmala, Mārupe municipality, and Liepāja among non-resident visitors, while many residents opted for Riga, Jūrmala, Liepāja, and other cities for their lifestyle tourism.
