In the 1st quarter, the number of tourists in accommodation establishments increased
According to Statistics Estonia, in the 1st quarter of 2017, domestic and foreign tourists who stayed in Estonian accommodation establishments numbered 627,000, which was 9% more than in the same period of the previous year.
In the 1st quarter of 2017, foreign tourists who used the services of accommodation establishments numbered 345,000, which was 10% more than in the same period last year. Foreign tourists accounted for 55% of the total number of tourists. 72% of all the foreign tourists who used accommodation services came from neighbouring countries – 155,000 tourists from Finland, 63,000 tourists from Russia and 32,000 tourists from Latvia. Compared to the 1st quarter of 2016, the number of tourists from neighbouring countries increased in all three months. In the 1st quarter of 2017, domestic tourists who used the services of accommodation establishments numbered 281,000, which was 9% more than in the same period last year.
In March 2017, the services of accommodation establishments were used by 228,000 tourists, of which 126,500 were foreign tourists and 101,500 domestic tourists. The number of foreign and domestic tourists in March, compared to the same month of the previous year, increased 5% and 11%, respectively. Compared to March 2016, the number of tourists arriving from Finland, Russia and Latvia increased, as did the number of tourists arriving from Germany and the United Kingdom. The number of tourists arriving from Lithuania, Norway and Sweden decreased. Of the accommodated foreign tourists, 68% came to Estonia for holidays, one fourth were on a business trip and the rest had some other reason for visiting Estonia. Foreign tourists mainly preferred the accommodation establishments of Tallinn (76% of accommodated foreign tourists), Pärnu city (7%), Tartu city (5%) and Ida-Viru county (4%). Of the accommodated domestic tourists, 61% were on a holiday trip and every fourth on a business trip. 29% of the domestic tourists who used accommodation services stayed in the accommodation establishments of Harju county, 17% in Pärnu county, 14% in Tartu county and 10% in Ida-Viru county.
In March, 939 accommodation establishments offered services for tourists. 19,000 rooms and 44,000 beds were available for tourists. 39% of the rooms and 30% of the beds were occupied. The average cost of a guest night was 34 euros, i.e. one euro more than in the same month of the previous year. The average cost of a guest night was 40 euros in Harju county, 33 euros in Tartu county, 26 euros in Pärnu county and 29 euros in Ida-Viru county.
| Accommodation | Total | Northern Estonia | North-Eastern Estonia | Central Estonia | Western Estonia | Southern Estonia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation establishments | 939 | 205 | 55 | 102 | 260 | 317 |
| Rooms | 19,402 | 8,448 | 1,170 | 1,489 | 4,236 | 4,059 |
| Beds | 43,571 | 18,015 | 2,490 | 3,726 | 9,441 | 9,899 |
| Room occupancy rate, % | 39 | 50 | 46 | 21 | 36 | 27 |
| Bed occupancy rate, % | 30 | 39 | 36 | 15 | 28 | 20 |
| Tourists accommodated | 227,912 | 127,750 | 15,060 | 9,954 | 40,322 | 34,826 |
| Nights spent | 409,415 | 219,614 | 27,942 | 17,105 | 83,113 | 61,641 |
| residents of Estonia | 168,361 | 47,777 | 16,091 | 13,956 | 47,229 | 43,308 |
| foreign visitors | 241,054 | 171,837 | 11,851 | 3,149 | 35,884 | 18,333 |
| Average cost of a guest night, euros | 34 | 40 | 29 | 28 | 26 | 29 |
The statistics are based on the questionnaire “Accommodation”, the submission deadline of which was 10 April 2017. Statistics Estonia published the monthly summary in 16 working days. For the statistical activity “Accommodation”, the main representative of public interest is the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, commissioned by whom Statistics Estonia collects and analyses the data necessary for conducting the statistical activity.