There were 3% fewer visits to Estonia by non-residents in the first quarter of 2016 than in the first quarter of 2015. The number of overnight visits and the length of such stays remained the same, but the number of same-day visits was down 5%.

Residents of the European Union visited Estonia in the same numbers as they did last year. There were 390,000 visits to Estonia from Finland, which is 3% fewer than in the same quarter of the previous year. There were also falls of 21% in the number of visits from the Netherlands, 14% in visits from Italy, and 12% in visits from France. In contrast there was an increase of 31% in visits from Belgium, 12% in visits from Spain, and 18% in visits from Norway.

There were one tenth fewer tourists arriving from Russia than in the first quarter of 2015.

Tourists visiting Estonia spent an estimated total of 175 million euros.

In the first quarter of 2016, Estonian residents travelled to foreign countries 2% more than a year earlier¹.

There were a few more overnight visits, but their average length remained constant at 3.8 days. Same-day trips accounted for 16% of the total, and they increased in number by 6%.

As usual, residents of Estonia visited Finland the most, making 160,000 visits there, a number that has not changed over the year. There were half as many visits to Egypt, and one tenth fewer to Thailand and Turkey. Estonian residents made 13% more visits to countries in the CIS however. European Union countries were visited 3% more, and over 10% more visits were made to Hungary, the Czech Republic, Poland and Austria.

Visitors from Estonia to foreign countries spent an estimated 150 million euros.

¹ The number of trips abroad and the number of foreign countries visited are not the same, as one trip abroad may include visits to several different countries.

The movement of travellers has a noticeable effect on the export and import of travel services in the Estonian balance of payments. The balance of payments statistics for the first quarter of this year will be published on 9 June.

International travel statistics

For further information:
Tarass Snitsarenko
Eesti Pank Statistics Department
Telephone: +372 668 0906
Email: [email protected]