Estonian residents made 8% more domestic trips last year
According to Statistics Estonia, Estonian residents made over 1.5 million overnight outbound trips in 2024, which is 2% more than in 2023. There were nearly 3.5 million overnight domestic trips last year, up by 8% from 2023.
Piret Pukk, leading analyst at Statistics Estonia, said that Estonian residents have been travelling more in recent years but are still not making as many trips as before the pandemic, especially as concerns outbound trips. “Last year, the number of domestic trips was again over two times bigger than the number of outbound trips. In 2019, Estonian residents made 1.7 million overnight outbound trips and 3.5 million overnight domestic trips. In 2024, the number of trips abroad was 9% smaller than in 2019, while the number of domestic trips was almost back at the pre-pandemic level,” said Pukk.
Almost three quarters of trips are made to EU countries
The main destinations for outbound trips were European Union (EU) countries (73% of outbound overnight trips). Finland, Latvia, Sweden, Spain and Italy were the most visited EU countries, while Turkey was the top destination among non-EU countries. For overnight trips within Estonia, the most popular destinations were Harju county (including Tallinn), Tartu county and Pärnu county. These were followed by Ida-Viru and Saare counties, with Võru and Lääne counties not far behind.
Travelling for holidays was again the most common purpose of both domestic and outbound overnight trips made by Estonian residents. In 2024, over half of all trips (58%) were made for holidays and leisure. Business trips accounted for 14%, visits to friends or relatives for 25%, and trips for other personal purposes for 3% of the trips made.
Overnight domestic trips are usually short, lasting for just a few days, and outbound trips tend to be longer. 91% of overnight domestic trips were short (for 1–3 nights) and 9% had a longer duration. In the case of trips made abroad, trips for 1–3 nights and trips for 4–7 nights each accounted for 38%, and the share of trips with a duration over 7 nights was 24%.
Spending on trips has increased in recent years
Last year, Estonian residents who travelled abroad mostly stayed in rented accommodation with 7.5 million nights spent – this includes 5 million nights in hotels or similar establishments, and 2.5 million nights in other rented accommodation. Non-rented accommodation was used for 2.8 million nights during outbound trips.
Pukk explained that, during domestic trips, people are more likely to use non-rented accommodation, such as staying with friends or relatives or at their own holiday home. “Non-rented accommodation was used for nearly 4.3 million nights during domestic trips last year. Rented accommodation was used for 3 million nights, with 66% of these spent in hotels or similar establishments,” she added.
In the last three reference years, the average expenditure on an outbound overnight trip has been more than 1,000 euros. There has also been an increase in expenditure on overnight domestic trips. In 2024, Estonian residents spent, on average, 1,102 euros on an overnight outbound trip and 185 euros on an overnight domestic trip. In the case of overnight outbound trips, the estimated expenditure on transport (380 euros) and accommodation (342 euros) each represented a third of the total spending. A fifth of the total trip cost was spent on food and drinks in cafés and restaurants (233 euros), and over a tenth on other expenses (entertainment, shopping, services).
There were 6.7 million domestic day trips (no overnight stay) made in 2024. The average expenditure on a domestic day trip was 59 euros. Estonian residents made over 777,000 outbound day trips, with an average spending of 131 euros per trip.
Data on the travelling of Estonian residents have been collected since 2013 with the Tourism Survey, which is commissioned by Eurostat.
The aim of the survey is to collect information on travel by Estonian residents and to obtain objective tourism statistics comparable between European countries. The data are used to analyse tourism trends as well as to assess the situation of the tourism sector and address its challenges. The survey samples 2,500 people each quarter.
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 5696 6484
press [at] stat.ee (press[at]stat[dot]ee)