In August, domestic tourists again outnumbered foreign tourists

According to Helga Laurmaa, analyst at Statistics Estonia, in August there were again more domestic tourists than foreign tourists in accommodation establishments. “Two thirds of the tourists in accommodation establishments were domestic tourists and a third were foreign tourists. In 2019, the situation was the reverse,” said Laurmaa.

In August, 219,000 domestic tourists stayed in accommodation establishments, and their nights spent totalled 377,000. Compared to August 2019, the number of domestic tourists increased by 8% and their nights spent by 9%. Of the domestic tourists, 74% were on holiday and 13% were on a business trip. The largest share, i.e. 18% of domestic tourists stayed in Pärnu county, 16% stayed in Harju county, 12% in Ida-Viru county, 9% in Saare county and 8% in Tartu county.

Foreign tourists who used the services of accommodation establishments numbered 112,000, which is 61% less than in August 2019. The largest number, i.e. 41,000, came from Finland, 29,000 tourists came from Latvia and 12,000 from Lithuania. While the number of Finnish tourists halved compared to the previous year, the number of Latvian tourists increased by a third and the number of Lithuanian tourists by a fifth. 78% of foreign tourists came to Estonia for holiday, 17% came on business and the rest had some other reason for visiting. Foreign tourists spent 214,000 nights in Estonia, which is 60% less than in August 2019. Of foreign tourists, 56% stayed in the accommodation establishments of Harju county, 17% in Pärnu county, 9% in Tartu county and 7% in Saare county.

In August, 1,256 accommodation establishments were available for tourists. The average cost of a guest night was 31 euros. Compared to August 2019, the cost was 8 euros lower. In Pärnu county, the average cost of a guest night was 36 euros, in Tartu county 35 euros, in Harju and Saare counties 33 euros and in Ida-Viru county 31 euros.

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.

More detailed data have been published in the statistical database.

For further information:

Kaia-Liisa Tabri
Communications Partner
Marketing and Dissemination Department
Statistics Estonia
Tel +372 507 0521