Tourist numbers down 20 percent due to coronavirus crisis
The number of tourists visiting Estonia from EU countries decreased by more than 20 percent in the first quarter of 2020, according to figures published by the Bank of Estonia on Monday.
Every third tourist visited Estonia from Finland in the first quarter, but the number of tourists from Finland decreased by 20 percent compared to the same period last year. Every fourth visitor came from Russia, the number of Russian tourists decreased by just ten percent.
In the first quarter of 2020, foreign visitor spending amounted to €184 million, €37 million less on year.
The number of same-day visits decreased by a quarter and amounted to 43 percent of the total number of visits. There were some 100,000 fewer overnight visits than during the same period last year, but the average length of overnight visits has increased.
Estonian residents visited foreign countries on 620,000 occasions in the first quarter, 15 percent less than in the first quarter of 2019.
Estonian residents' visits to EU countries decreased by 17 percent, visits to the Netherlands decreased by most. Visits to Thailand grew, however, and visits to Egypt decreased minimally.
There were 12 percent fewer same-day visits, which amounted to 15 percent of total visits. The average overnight visit, down 16 percent on the year before, took four nights on average.
Estonian residents spent €190 million abroad, €35 million less than a year ago.
Full international travel statistics with methodology and tables can be found HERE.
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Editor: Anders Nõmm