Domestic tourism in Estonia beginning to recuperate after pandemic's impact

Domestic tourism in Estonia beginning to recuperate after pandemic's impact

Tourism ble Bloom in Estonia's Landscape:

Hey there! Let's dive into the thriving tourism sector of Estonia, shall we? Aleksandr Michelson, a tourism advisor at the Estonian Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, has some intriguing insights to share.

Despite a slight dip compared to the pre-pandemic period, 2024 was a triumph for tourism—both domestic and foreign. Estonian residents embarked on 1.5 million overnight outbound trips, a 2% boost over 2023, and nearly 3.5 million overnight domestic trips, a gripping 8% surge from the previous year.

As Michelson shared in a press release, the number of foreign trips has yet to fully catch up to the pre-pandemic era of 2019. However, the domestic tourism scene has almost returned to its former glory, with a whopping 3.5 million domestic trips recorded in 2019.

One fascinating fact? The number of overnight stays is on the rise! Domestic trips enjoyed a 4% increase over 2023 and an impressive 8% jump compared to 2019. Foreign trips, on the other hand, experienced a more moderate 8% growth compared to 2023, but a negligible increase compared to 2019.

There's good news for regional businesses, though, as the spike in domestic tourism is making a positive impact. On average, Savvy Estonian travelers spent 184 euros on each domestic trip in 2024—a 3% hike compared to 2023 and a substantial 39% boost compared to 2019. Business trips saw an even more dramatic surge, with spending up by 22% in 2024 versus 2023 and a whopping 58% more than in 2019.

On the subject of foreign travel, Estonian pensioners and jetsetters alike spent an average of 1,102 euros on overnight trips abroad in 2024, a 2% increase from 2023 and an invigorating 33% increase compared to 2019. Breaking down the spending, around 380 euros went toward transportation, 342 euros to accommodation, 233 euros to food, and the rest to entertainment and shopping.

Catching the eye of Estonian tourists are neighboring nations or countries with balmy climates in southern Europe. EU countries still account for an impressive 73% of foreign trips, with the favorites being Finland, Latvia, Sweden, Spain, and Italy. The Transformative Travel Trend of 2024? A staggering 48% and 32% increase in trips to Sweden and Spain, respectively, while Lithuania saw a 14% surge.

Wrapping up, Michelson pointed out that the rise in domestic tourism is indeed sparking a ripple effect in local entrepreneurship. According to preliminary estimates, revenue and profits from accommodation and catering have upticked in 2024. Boasting an optimistic note, Michelson concluded that the growth in the tourism industry continues to be reinforced by the number of overnight stays by foreign visitors, with foreign tourists spending 9% more nights in Estonia in 2024 than in 2023.

Tourism Momentum:To get the full picture of Estonia's tourism growth from a holistic perspective, it is essential to consider several factors, including foreign tourism, domestic tourism, and economic indicators. Although foreign travel has mostly returned to pre-pandemic levels as of early 2025, full-year data for 2024 might not entirely match 2019 statistics due to economic circumstances and travel restrictions in earlier months. Meanwhile, the domestic tourism sector is experiencing a dynamic growth, far exceeding the pre-pandemic levels in many aspects, while economic indicators are facing mixed results, with increases in visitor numbers but reduced revenue due to various challenges, such as higher costs and lower room rates. In conclusion, the tourism sector in Estonia is enjoying a multifarious recovery.

1. In 2024, the average spending per domestic trip in Estonia increased by 3%, reaching 184 euros, and for business trips, it rose by 22% compared to the previous year.
2. The Transformative Travel Trend of 2024 saw a significant increase in trips to neighboring countries, particularly Sweden and Spain, with a 48% and 32% rise in trips, respectively.
3. Despite a slight dip compared to pre-pandemic levels, foreign trips have yet to fully recover, while domestic tourism has almost returned to its former glory, with a whopping 3.5 million domestic trips recorded in 2019.
4. The growth in the tourism industry continues to be indicative of Estonia's lifestyle and economy, with preliminary estimates suggesting an uptick in revenue and profits from accommodation and catering in 2024, due in part to a 9% increase in nights spent by foreign tourists.

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