In 2009 foreign visitors spent 344.1 mln lats in Latvia [1]

07.05.2010 06:03 | Latvia

Author: Edīte Miezīte
Source: www.csb.lv

The results of the survey conducted by the Central Statistical Bureau show that compared to 2008 in 2009 foreign travellers crossed Latvia’s border 4.7 mln times which is less by 14%. From the total number of foreign visitors 72% spent less then 24 hours in Latvia.

28% of all foreign travellers stayed in Latvia for more than 24 hours. 72% of the foreign overnight travellers were accommodated in hotels or in other accommodation establishments, but 28% stayed at their relatives or friends. 36% of the overnight visitors came to Latvia for the first time.

In 2009 foreign visitors spent 344.1 mln lats in Latvia, less by 14.6% on the corresponding period of previous year (this amount does not include travel expenses, expenditures on instructions of the employer and capital investments).

Most of the foreign travellers were from neighbouring countries: 37% from Lithuania, 20% – from Estonia, 6% – from Russia, 6% – from Sweden, 5% – from Germany and 4% – from Poland.

44% of overnight foreign visitors mentionedrecreation as the main purpose of the visit, 27% mentioned business trips and 20% – visit to friends or relatives.

24% of overnight visitors obtained information on Latvia on the Internet, 19% – from relatives, friends and acquaintances, 16% – during the previous visits, 12% – during business trips, 8% – from tourism manuals and 6% – from mass media.

Mode of transport used by foreign overnight

travelers in crossing Latvia’s border (in %)

Evaluation of indicators characterising the trip (in %)

	Total	Including evaluation:
	Total	good	satisfactory	bad	don’t know
Quality of services	100	65.0	30.2	3.1	1.7
Price/ quality adequacy	100	42.9	38.9	13.6	4.6
Responsiveness of people	100	62.8	31.2	4.3	1.7
Cleanliness of towns	100	62.5	29.9	5.5	2.1
Entertainment	100	48.4	20.7	5.1	25.8
Language skills of the locals	100	53.2	33.9	9.1	3.8

Latvian travellers

In 2009 Latvian residents crossed Latvia’s border 3.1 mln times, which is less by 13.2% than in 2008. In 2008 on average Latvian travellers spent 4.7 visitor nights abroad.

Similarly as in previous surveys, also this time Latvian travellers visited neighbouring countries the most – Lithuania (30%), Russia (18%), Estonia (11%) and Germany (8%).

In 2009 in total Latvian travellers spent abroad 408.4 mln lats, less by 30% on the previous year (this amount does not include travel expenses, expenditures on instructions of the employer and capital investments).

In 2009 35% of all Latvian overnight travellers crossing Latvia’s border when returning from foreign countries had gone abroad for recreation, 28% – had visited relatives and friends, 20% mentioned business as main purpose of the trip.

The majority of travellers (54% of total number) were aged 25-44 years. Those travellers who visited foreign countries mentioned recreation (37%), visits to relatives and friends (25%) or business trips (21%) as the main purpose of the trip. Younger travellers (aged 15 – 24 years) preferred recreational trips (47%), as well as visits to relatives and friends (39%). Travellers aged 45 – 64 years mostly visited relatives and friends (30%), made recreational trips (26%) and participated in business trips (24%). Elderly Latvian travellers aged over 65 years mostly went abroad to visit relatives and friends (82%).

Mode of transport used by Latvian overnight

travelers in crossing Latvia’s border (in %)

Assessment of trips abroad by countries (overnight travellers) (in %)

	Total	Including assessment:
	Total	very good	good	adequate	poor	very poor
Austria	100	52.8	39.1	8.1	0.0	0.0
Belarus	100	17.7	59.1	21.7	1.5	0.0
France	100	54.1	41.7	4.2	0.0	0.0
Estonia	100	49.3	40.0	9.7	0.3	0.7
Russia	100	23.8	36.8	34.7	4.4	0.3
Lithuania	100	35.1	33.8	28.3	1.0	1.8
Poland	100	43.8	25.0	30.0	1.2	0.0
Finland	100	29.7	52.3	17.7	0.3	0.0
Ukraine	100	31.5	53.3	15.2	0.0	0.0
Germany	100	44.1	42.9	13.0	0.0	0.0
Sweden	100	57.6	33.6	8.8	0.0	0.0