Compared to 2019, their expenditure reduced by 70.3 % and comprised EUR 239.7 million. Most visitors came from Lithuania (1.3 million), Estonia (0.8 million), Russia (0.3 million), Poland (147 thousand) and Germany (100 thousand).
The number and expenditure of same-day travellers last year reduced more than that of overnight travellers. The number of trips has decreased by 59.9 % and comprised 2.6 million trips, but expenditure fell by 64.8 % and comprised EUR 94.3 million.
The largest number of same-day travellers arrived to Latvia from Lithuania – 1.1 million or 44.2 % of the total number of same-day travellers. The second greatest number of same-day travellers was from Estonia – 701.1 thousand or 27.3 %, but the third largest number of same-day travellers was from Russia – 215.6 thousand or 8 % of all same-day travellers. Compared to the previous year, the number of border crossings made by travellers from Lithuania has dropped by 54.9 %, from Estonia – by 44.3 %, but from Russia – by 66 %.
In 2020 four out of five travellers (77.9 %) crossed the border of Latvia by car (in 2019 – 67 %), as most part of same-day travellers were from Lithuania and Estonia.
In 2020, Latvia was visited by 635.6 thousand overnight travellers (67.1 % less than in 2019), spending EUR 145.4 million or 73 % less than in 2019. Compared to the year before, the total number of nights spent fell by 65.1 %, comprising 2.9 million nights. Almost 75 % or 475 thousand of all overnight travellers arrived to Latvia from Lithuania, Estonia, Russia, United Kingdom and Germany.
Both the number of border crossings and traveller expenditure has dropped significantly last year due to COVID-19 pandemic, however, the average length of stay of overnight travellers has increased by 6.4 % and reached 4.5 nights.
