Latvians Travel Less Within Their Country Than Estonians: Domestic Tourism Needs a Boost 0 8

In 2025, residents of Estonia traveled more actively within their country than Latvians - this conclusion can be drawn from the official statistics of the two countries.

In Latvian accommodation facilities, 2.8 million tourists stayed in 2025, of which 1.7 million were foreign guests and 1.1 million were local travelers. In Estonia, nearly 3.7 million tourists stayed overnight last year, among them 1.95 million were foreigners and 1.74 million were locals. This data is published by the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia and the Estonian statistical office "Statistics Estonia."

From this data, it follows that it is necessary not only to promote Latvia abroad as a tourist destination but also to more actively encourage locals to travel within their own country. In Estonia, where the population is smaller than in Latvia (about 1.36 million compared to 1.86 million), tourism among locals is developing more actively. Perhaps this is facilitated by strong traditions of domestic tourism and the attractiveness of local offerings - attractions, events, accommodation, and dining options.

In 2025, the average length of stay for foreign guests in Latvian tourist facilities was 1.8 nights, the same as in 2024. The average length of stay for Latvians was slightly shorter - 1.7 nights, and there were no changes compared to 2024. These figures indicate that trips within Latvia last on average two to three days. For many years, there has been no significant increase in the duration of travels.

Industry representatives note that many residents of Latvia and guests from neighboring Baltic countries spend extended weekends with us: arriving on Friday evening and leaving on Sunday, or arriving on Saturday and leaving on Monday morning. Tourists from distant countries often visit Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia during one trip, spending two to three days in each country, with the entire journey lasting about a week to ten days.