In January more tourists stayed in accommodation establishments than a year ago

Photo: Panther Media/Scanpix

According to Statistics Estonia, in January 2013, 163,000 tourists stayed in the accommodation establishments of Estonia, which was 6% more than in January a year earlier. One third more tourists came from Russia than from Finland.

In January, 99,000 foreign and 64,000 domestic tourists used the services of accommodation establishments or respectively 5% and 8% more than in January last year. Most of the foreign tourists arrived from the neighbouring countries Finland, Russia and Latvia. 41,000 tourists from Russia, representing 42% of the total number of foreign tourists used the services of accommodation establishments. 10% more tourists from Russia stayed in accommodation establishments than in January a year ago. For the second year in succession, in January, among the clients of accommodation establishments more tourists came from Russia than from Finland. 31,000 tourists from Finland stayed in accommodation establishments or 2% more than in January a year ago. The number of tourists from Latvia, Lithuania and Germany also increased. The number of tourists from Sweden, Norway and the United Kingdom decreased.

In January, 39% of the clients of accommodation establishments were domestic tourists. About 5,000 domestic tourists more used the services of accommodation establishments, compared to January 2012. 29% of domestic tourists stayed in accommodation establishments in Harju county, 12% in Pärnu county, 11% Ida-Viru in county. 54% of the domestic tourists were on holiday and almost a third was on business trips.

In January, 828 accommodation establishments with 17,000 rooms and 38,000 bed-places were available for tourists. Nearly 600 bed-places more were available than in January a year ago. The room occupancy rate was 35% and the bed occupancy rate 29%. 37% of the total number of beds were located in large establishments (with 100 or more rooms) and they were used by more than half of the tourists using the services of accommodation in January. At the same time 16% of the total number of beds were in small accommodation establishments with up to 10 rooms and they were used by 6% of accommodated tourists. The bed occupancy rate (42%) in large accommodation establishments was significantly greater than the Estonian average and exceeded four times the bed occupancy rate (11%) in small accommodation establishments.

In January, the average cost of a guest night in an accommodation establishment was 33 euros and it was three euros more expensive than in January 2012.