Liepāja Sees ~ 32% Growth in Foreign Arrivals in August

Liepāja experienced a 32.2% increase in foreign arrivals this August, with a total of 8,821 overnight stays and a 38.8% rise in the number of nights spent (17,239 nights), according to the latest data from the Central Statistical Office.

The average length of stay for international visitors was 1.95 nights, with guests arriving from 58 different countries. Leading the way were tourists from Lithuania, who contributed 4,488 overnight stays—an increase of 34%. German visitors followed with 1,393 overnight stays, marking a 53% rise. Other key markets showing significant growth included Estonia (524; +13%), Poland (351; +82%), Denmark (180; +162%), Great Britain (174; +23%), and Finland (170; +15%).

While the influx of foreign visitors grew, the number of domestic tourists in August saw a slight decline of 3.2%, with 8,971 Latvian visitors. Nights spent by domestic guests also decreased by 1.6%, totalling 16,408 nights. The average stay for Latvian visitors was 1.83 nights.

In total, Liepāja's accommodation providers served 17,792 guests in August 2024, representing an 11.7% year-on-year increase. The number of nights spent rose by 15.8%, reaching 33,647 nights, with the average length of stay standing at 1.89 nights.

Occupancy rates also saw a boost, with room occupancy climbing to 62.6%, up by 5.4 percentage points compared to last year, and bed occupancy rising to 54.9%, an increase of 3.4 percentage points compared to the August 2023.

Looking at the broader summer season (June to August), Liepāja welcomed 48,189 guests—split evenly between domestic and international (51% vs 49% accordingly) tourists—reflecting a 1.8% growth compared to 2023. The total number of nights spent increased by 5.4%, reaching 90,752 nights.

For the first eight months of the year, Liepāja's accommodation sector hosted 87,197 guests, a 3.5% increase compared to the previous year, with the number of overnight stays rising by 4.2% to 155,552 nights. Both of these figures surpass pre-pandemic levels, highlighting Liepāja’s continued appeal as a tourist destination.

The Liepāja Region Tourism Information Office reported serving in-person 2,496 visitors in August, with 63% being international tourists, 20% Latvian visitors, and 17% local residents. Among foreign visitors, the largest numbers came from Lithuania, Germany, the USA, France, and Spain.

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