Liepāja Region Tourism Information Office (LRTIO) has gathered statistics on city’s tourism development in 2024.
The statistics in PDF format can be found here.
According to data from the Central Statistical Bureau (CSP), 120,972 tourists stayed overnight in Liepāja in 2024, which is 7.3% more than in 2023 and is also the highest figure recorded in the history of the city’s tourism data collection. The number of nights spent has increased by 10%, reaching 216,326 nights, also surpassing last year’s record. Latvian visitors have decreased by just under a hundred overnight guests, but the total number of nights spent has increased. Foreign tourists grew by 21.6%, while their overnight stays increased by 26.1%. The average length of stay in Liepāja accommodations was 1.79 nights.
When analyzing the data by month, the largest number of visitors stayed in Liepāja’s accommodations during the three summer months, but the biggest increase in overnight guests was recorded in November (45.9%), January (31.2%), and October (20.5%). Similarly, the highest increase in the number of nights spent was observed in these months, respectively 71.6%, 29.7%, and 31.8%.
The average annual occupancy rate of Liepāja accommodations in 2024 was 38.9%, while the bed occupancy rate was 31.7%. According to CSP data, the highest occupancy rate was recorded in August, when 62.6% of guest rooms and 54.9% of beds were occupied on average in the city.
The top three foreign visitors to Liepāja accommodations remained the same as in 2023. The most overnight guests came from Lithuania, with 18,503 visitors, which makes up 39.3% of all foreign overnight visitors and represents an increase of 4.6% compared to 2023, from Germany, 5,629 visitors or 12% with an increase of 26.4%, and from Estonia, 3,586 visitors or 7.6% with an increase of 32%. The distribution of visitors from more distant countries was largely influenced by two major international events held in Liepāja. The United Kingdom ranked fourth with 2,403 visitors or 5.1%, showing an increase of 132%, followed by Denmark with 1,957 visitors or 4.2% and an increase of 16.5%, the United States with 1,787 visitors or 3.8% and an increase of 104.5%, Poland with 1,717 visitors or 3.7% and an increase of 23.9%, Finland with 1,405 visitors or 3% and an increase of 28.2%, and Sweden with 1,049 visitors or 2.2% and an increase of 32.8%. In total, tourists from 103 countries stayed overnight in Liepāja in 2024, compared to 100 countries in 2023, including 26 countries from which at least 100 tourists arrived.
In 2024, the Liepāja Marina yacht harbor served 243 yachts from 17 countries, with the most visitors arriving from Lithuania, Poland, Germany, Sweden, Finland, and Latvia. Additionally, two cruise ships docked in Liepāja’s port, bringing around 1,200 passengers.
The Liepāja Regional Tourism Information Office (LRTIB) served 15,603 visitors in 2024, of whom 17% were Latvian tourists, 40% were foreign tourists, and 43% were residents. The most frequent visitors seeking information came from Lithuania, Germany, France, Poland, the United States, and the United Kingdom. In total, the LRTIB served tourists from 61 countries in 2024.
Liepāja’s tour guides conducted 159 tours arranged by LRTIB, introducing around 3,000 guests to the city’s history and present. Visitors on guided tours came from all four historical regions of Latvia, with the most tourists arriving from Riga, Daugavpils, Dobele, and Kuldīga. Additionally, guided tours were attended by tourists from Lithuania, Germany, Finland, Poland, Japan, the Netherlands, the United States, and other countries.