3.6 million tourists: number of accommodated tourists was up by 5% in 2024
According to Statistics Estonia, in 2024, Estonian accommodation establishments served 3.6 million tourists, which is 5% more than in 2023 but 5% less than in 2019.
Helga Laurmaa, leading analyst at Statistics Estonia, said that nearly 1.86 million foreign tourists and nearly 1.76 million domestic tourists were accommodated in Estonia in 2024. “Compared with 2023, there were 11% more foreign tourists, while the number of domestic tourists remained at the same level. If we compare last year’s figures to 2019, which was the pre-pandemic record year, the number of accommodated domestic tourists has increased by over 200,000 but, at the same time, the number of foreign tourists has decreased by almost 400,000,” noted Laurmaa.
Tourist arrivals from Finland totalled 696,000 in 2024. This number was at a similar level compared with 2023 but 13% smaller than in 2019 before the pandemic. The number of accommodated Latvian tourists was nearly 251,000, which is 9% more than in 2023 and 37% more than in 2019. The other countries in the top five in terms of arrivals were Germany (117,000 tourists), Lithuania (81,000) and the United Kingdom (70,000).
The number of domestic tourists in 2024 remained at a similar level year on year but increased by 14% compared with 2019.
73% of foreign tourists and 29% of domestic tourists preferred to stay overnight in Harju county. Other popular counties for overnight stays were Pärnu, Tartu, Ida-Viru and Saare counties.
Tourists spent a total of 6.65 million nights in accommodation establishments: foreign tourists stayed for 3.67 million nights and domestic tourists for 2.98 million nights in total.
Last December, the room occupancy rate was 46%
In December 2024, there were 280,000 tourists accommodated in Estonia and they stayed for a total of 515,000 nights. Accommodation establishments served 133,000 domestic and nearly 148,000 foreign tourists, who spent 218,000 and almost 298,000 nights, respectively. Compared with December 2023, there were 3% more tourists accommodated. The number of domestic tourists increased by 2% and the number of foreign tourists by 5%.
“In December 2024, there were 933 accommodation establishments open for tourists, with 21,000 rooms and 48,000 bed places available for guests. The room occupancy rate was 46%. The average cost of a guest night was 49 euros per person, which is the same as in December 2023 and 29% more expensive than in December 2019,” said Laurmaa.
The cost of an overnight stay per person was 53 euros in Harju county, 52 euros in Lääne-Viru county, and 48 euros in Saare county. A guest night cost 46 euros in Ida-Viru, Lääne and Valga counties, 44 euros in Pärnu county, and 41 euros in Tartu county.
Statistics Estonia collects and analyses accommodation data for the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications with the aim to determine the economic situation in Estonia.
See also the dedicated section on tourism, accommodation and food service and the tourism industry dashboard.
More detailed data have been published in the statistical database.
When using Statistics Estonia’s data and graphs, please indicate the source.
For further information:
Heidi Kukk
Media Relations Manager
Marketing and Dissemination Department
Statistics Estonia
Tel +372 625 9181
press [at] stat.ee (press[at]stat[dot]ee)