12.6.2023 | Estonia

The number of foreign tourists rose in April, but there were fewer domestic tourists

Text Mark Taylor
Photo Andrei Chertkov

According to data released by Statistics Estonia, 250,000 tourists stayed in accommodation establishments in Estonia in April 2023, which is 6 per cent more than in April last year. The number of foreign tourists increased, but there were fewer domestic tourists.

“The number of foreign tourists was still 19 per cent smaller than in April 2019 before the pandemic. However, compared with April 2022, the number of foreign tourists increased by nearly a fifth (19 per cent), said Helga Laurmaa, a leading analyst at Statistics Estonia.

For the first time in 2023, the number of domestic tourists decreased, down 5 per cent compared with April 2022. However, there were 17 per cent more domestic tourists than in April 2019.

Compared with April 2022, there were more tourists from many European countries as well as from countries outside of Europe. 58,000 tourists from Finland and 19,000 tourists from Latvia were accommodated. The number of arrivals from both countries was higher than in April last year. Compared with April 2022, there were also more tourists from Germany, Lithuania, the United Kingdom, Sweden, the USA, Poland, and Asian countries.

72 per cent of foreign tourists were on holiday and 21 per cent were travelling on business. 75 per cent of foreign tourists stayed in accommodation establishments in Harjumaa, followed by Pärnumaa (11 per cent), Tartumaa (6 per cent) and Saaremaa (2 per cent). Foreign tourists spent a total of 256,000 nights in Estonia in April.

In the case of domestic tourists, 68 per cent were on holiday and 23 per cent were on business trips. The largest share of domestic tourists (33 per cent) were accommodated in Harjumaa, 13 per cent in Pärnumaa, 11 per cent in Tartumaa, and 10 per cent in Ida-Virumaa. Domestic tourists spent a total of 207,000 nights in accommodation establishments.

In April, the average cost of a guest night was 45 euros per person, which is 5 euros more than in April 2022 and 8 euros more than in April 2019. The average cost of a guest night increased by 11 per cent year on year. The average cost of an overnight stay per person was 53 euros in Tartumaa, 51 euros in Lääne-Virumaa, 47 euros in Harjumaa, 44 euros in Ida-Virumaa, and 38 euros in Pärnumaa and Saaremaa.