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

Photo: Olümpia hotell.

According to Statistics Estonia, in February 2013, 160,000 domestic and foreign tourists stayed in the accommodation establishments of Estonia, which was 5% more than in February 2012. The number of domestic tourists as well as foreign tourists increased.

In February, 91,000 foreign tourists used the services of accommodation establishments, which was 6,000 tourists (7%) more than in same period a year ago. Most of the foreign tourists (87%) stayed in the accommodation establishments of Tallinn, Tartu and Pärnu. More foreign tourists stayed in accommodation establishments in these cities than last year (respectively 7%, 10% and 9% more). Traditionally, more than half of the foreign tourists arrived from Finland and their number in accommodation establishments increased 19% compared to February of the previous year. 16,000 tourists from Russia stayed in accommodation establishments, which was a quarter more than in the same period last year. The number of tourists from Latvia decreased. There was also a decrease in the number of tourists from Sweden, Germany and Norway.

In February, 43% of the clients of accommodation establishments were domestic tourists. 69,000 domestic tourists used the services of accommodation establishments, which was more than 2,000 domestic tourists more than in February 2012. 28% of domestic tourists stayed in accommodation establishments in Harju county, 15% in Pärnu county, 11% in Tartu county and 9% in Ida-Viru county. More than a half of the domestic tourists were on holiday and almost a third were on business trips.

In February, 835 accommodation establishments with 17,000 rooms and 38,000 bed-places were available for tourists. There were nearly 900 more bed-places available than in February a year ago. The room occupancy rate was 35% and the bed occupancy rate was 28%. Compared to February 2012, the room occupancy rate decreased by one percentage point. The bed occupancy rate in large accommodation establishments (with 100 or more rooms) was 41%, which is significantly greater than the Estonian average.

In February, the average cost of a guest night in an accommodation establishment was 30 euros and it was two euros more expensive than in February 2012. The average cost of a guest night in large accommodation establishments (with 100 or more rooms) was 34 euros.

Diagram: Tourists accommodated in accommodation establishments, February 2013