In May, the number of tourists in accommodation establishments remained low

According to Helga Laurmaa, analyst at Statistics Estonia, there were few tourists in accommodation establishments also in May 2020, and due to the closing of borders, the number of foreign tourists was especially low. “A total of 5,000 foreign tourists used the services of Estonian accommodation establishments, i.e. only 3% of the total number of foreign tourists in May 2019,” explained Laurmaa.

1,900 of the foreign tourists were from Latvia, 1,000 from Finland, 250 from Russia and 200 from Ukraine. Half of the foreign tourists were on holiday, 44% were on a business trip and 7% had some other reason for visiting Estonia. Foreign tourists spent in Estonia 17,000 nights, which is 96% less than in May 2019. Two thirds of the tourists preferred the accommodation establishments of Harju county, followed by Pärnu, Tartu and Ida-Viru counties.

Domestic tourists accounted for 86% of the tourists in accommodation establishments. Their total number was 32,000 and their nights spent totalled 66,000. The number of domestic tourists decreased by 71% and their nights spent by 63% compared to May 2019. 58% of the domestic tourists were on holiday and 34% on a business trip. Almost a quarter of domestic tourists preferred the accommodation establishments of Harju county, followed by Tartu and Pärnu counties.

In May, 954 accommodation establishments were available for tourists. The average cost of a guest night was 26 euros. Compared to May 2019, accommodation was significantly cheaper. In Tartu county, the average cost of a guest night was 31 euros, in Harju county 30 euros, in Pärnu county 25 euros and in Ida-Viru county 24 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.