Latvian residents traveled around the country less in 2020

Take note – story published 2 years ago

According to the latest data published June 14 by he Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) in 2020 Latvian residents made 6.2 million trips around Latvia, which is 40.9 % less than a year ago, and spent EUR 204 million, which is 43.8% less. 

Due to the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the previously planned trips around Latvia were cancelled by 21.6 % of respondents.

Last year Latvian residents went on 4.8 million same-day trips around Latvia, which is 39.5 % less than a year ago. Mostly (31 %) residents went to Pierīga. Trips to Kurzeme comprised 15.7 %, to Riga – 15.5 % (a drop of 5.1 %), to Vidzeme – 14.2 %, to Latgale – 11.9 %, to Zemgale – 11.7 %. Excluding Riga other popular destinations for same-day trips were Jūrmala (7.8 %), Sigulda municipality (4.1 %), Valmiera (3.8 %), Liepāja (3.2 %), Tukums municipality (3.1 %) and Jelgava (3.0 %).

In total EUR 128.5 million were spent in same-day trips, which is 42.1 % less than a year ago. Most of the money was spent on purchases (31.4 %), transport (30.1 %), catering services (14.5 %), entertainment and cultural activities (5.9 %) and other expenses (18.1 %). Average expenditure per day comprised EUR 26.8, which decreased by EUR 1.2.

The number of overnight trips around Latvia amounted to 1.4 million last year, which is 45.3 % less than in 2019. Share of overnight trips to Riga as a destination reduced by 5 % and comprised only 8.1 %. Most popular destination the same as in same-day trips was Pierīga – 24.7 %, followed by Kurzeme (23.7 %), Latgale (20.3 %), Vidzeme (14.3 %) and Zemgale (9 %). Other mostly visited cities and municipalities were Daugavpils (4.9 %), Liepāja (4 %), Jūrmala (3.3 %), Talsi municipality (3.2 %), Kuldīga and Cēsis municipalities (3.1 %).

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Even though visits to friends and relatives still was the most popular purpose of the trip (47 % out of all trips), its share reduced significantly (by 19 %). 42.6 % of the trips were recreational trips (share increased by 17 %), in turn, 10.4 % of trips were made with another personal or business purpose.

Last year passenger car or motorcycle was used in 87.5 % of trips (increase of 7.3 %), 7.9 % of trips were made by bus (fall of 6.2 %) and 4.1 % – by train (drop of 1.2 %).

Expenditure on overnight trips reached EUR 75.5 million last year, which is 46.6 % less than in 2019. Most of the money was spent on transport (26.5 %), accommodation (24.7 %), catering services (16 %), entertainment and cultural activities (3.8 %) and other expenses (29 %).

Compared to 2019, main differences in expenditure by the share of their category is rise of 9.8 % on expenditure for accommodation and reduction of 4.3% on expenditure for recreation and culture. Expenditure for accommodation increased as share of the number of trips when residents preferred to stay overnight in accommodation for a fee rose by 9.4 %. Residents less often stayed overnight at homes of relatives or friends, share of this type of accommodation reduced by 22.6 %.

Average expenditure on domestic tourism trip last year comprised EUR 55.2, decreasing by EUR 1.3 as compared to the previous year. Average expenditure per day comprised EUR 18.5, which is EUR 5.9 less than in 2019.

In 2020, 4.1 million nights were spent in domestic tourism trips, which is 29.5 % less than a year ago. Average length of a stay during a trip was 3 days – 0.7 days more than in 2019.

Women (54.6 %), residents aged 25-34 years (25.4 %), residents with higher education (51.8 %) and employed (76.2 %) mostly went on overnight domestic tourism trips.

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