According to Statistics Estonia, 169,000 tourists used the services of accommodation establishments in January 2014. Compared to January of the previous year, the number of foreign tourists increased and the number of domestic tourists decreased.
The number of foreign tourists in accommodation establishments increased
In January, 107,000 foreign tourists used the services of accommodation establishments, and compared to January 2013, their number increased by 11%. The number of foreign tourists increased mainly due to an increase in foreign tourist arrivals from Finland and Russia. Compared to January of the previous year, 15% more tourists from Russia and 13% more tourists from Finland stayed in accommodation establishments. Tourists from Russia and Finland were also the most numerous among clients of accommodation establishments – 47,000 tourists arrived from Russia and 34,000 tourists from Finland, or a total of three-quarters of all foreign tourists using the services of accommodation establishments. From several European countries, fewer tourists arrived than in January of the previous year. The number of tourists arriving from Asian countries increased by 62%, but the share of Asian tourists among the clients of accommodation establishments was small.
In January, 62,000 domestic tourists stayed in accommodation establishments, which was 2% less than in January of the previous year. 57% of the domestic tourists were on a holiday trip and 28% on a business trip. The most preferred destinations were Harju, Pärnu and Tartu counties, where (respectively) 28%, 14% and 11% of domestic tourists using the services of accommodation establishments stayed. Fewer domestic tourists stayed in the accommodation establishments of Harju county, whereas more domestic tourists stayed in the accommodation establishments of Pärnu and Tartu counties than in January of the previous year.
In January, 849 accommodation establishments offered services for tourists. 18,000 rooms and 40,000 beds were available for tourists. The room occupancy rate was 33% and the bed occupancy rate was 28%. The average cost of a guest night was 34 euros, which is a euro more than in January 2013. The average cost of a guest night was higher than the Estonian average only in Harju county. The average cost of a guest night was 23 euros in Pärnu county and 25 euros in Tartu county.