Record Visitor Hits in Liepāja Accommodation in 2024

Liepāja’s tourism sector reached an all-time high in 2024, as reflected in data from the Central Statistical Office (CSO).

A record-breaking 120,972 tourists stayed overnight in the city, marking a 7.3% increase from 2023 and setting a new benchmark in Liepāja’s tourism statistics.

The total number of overnight stays surged by 10%, reaching 216,326 nights – once again surpassing the previous year’s record.

While domestic visitor numbers remained stable, with a slight decrease of nearly 100 overnight stays, Latvian guests extended their stays, leading to a rise in the number of nights spent. Meanwhile, international tourism flourished, with a 21.6% increase in foreign arrivals and a 26.1% growth in overnight stays. On average, visitors spent 1.79 nights in Liepāja’s accommodation establishments.

Seasonal trends remained strong, with the highest influx of visitors recorded in the summer months. However, the most significant year-on-year growth in overnight stays was observed in November (+45.9%), January (+31.2%), and October (+20.5%). These same months also saw the sharpest increase in the total number of nights spent, rising by 71.6%, 29.7%, and 31.8%, respectively.

The average annual occupancy rate for accommodation establishments in Liepāja reached 38.9%, with bed occupancy at 31.7%. August recorded the highest accommodation demand, with 62.6% of guest rooms and 54.9% of available beds occupied.

The ranking of Liepāja’s most frequent foreign visitors remained unchanged from the previous year. Lithuanian tourists continued to lead, with 18,503 arrivals, accounting for 39.3% of all international visitors – a 4.6% increase from 2023. German guests followed with 5,629 arrivals (12%, +26.4%), while Estonia secured third place with 3,586 arrivals (7.6%, +32%). The presence of two major international events had a noticeable impact on visitor demographics, boosting arrivals from the United Kingdom to fourth place (2,403; 5.1%, +132%). Other notable increases included Denmark (1,957; 4.2%, +16.5%), the United States (1,787; 3.8%, +104.5%), Poland (1,717; 3.7%, +23.9%), Finland (1,405; 3%, +28.2%), and Sweden (1,049; 2.2%, +32.8%). In total, tourists from 103 countries stayed overnight in Liepāja in 2024, up from 100 in the previous year, with 26 nationalities accounting for at least 100 arrivals each.

Liepāja Marina also experienced a dynamic year, hosting 243 yachts from 17 countries, primarily Lithuania, Poland, Germany, Sweden, Finland, and Latvia. Additionally, the city welcomed two cruise ships, bringing approximately 1,200 passengers to its shores.

The Liepāja Region Tourism Information Bureau (LRTIB) remained a key resource for visitors, assisting in-person 15,603 people in 2024. Of these, 17% were Latvian tourists, 40% were foreign visitors, and 43% were local residents seeking information. International visitors most frequently came from Lithuania, Germany, France, Poland, the United States, and the United Kingdom. In total, LRTIB welcomed tourists from 61 countries over the course of the year.

Guided tours remained a popular way to explore Liepāja, with LRTIB’s guides leading 159 tours for approximately 3,000 visitors. Guests arrived from all corners of Latvia, including Rīga, Daugavpils, Dobele, and Kuldīga. Internationally, the city continued to attract tourists from Lithuania, Germany, Finland, Poland, Japan, the Netherlands, the USA, and beyond.

Released by

Agita Vucena
Liepāja Region Tourism Information Bureau
Tourism Development Specialist
E-mail: agita@liepaja.travel