Vilnius tourism statistics for the first half-year of 2009

According to the data of the Department of Statistics, during the first half-year of 2009, a total of 246 496 guests stayed in all Vilnius collective accommodation establishments where they spent 470 206 nights. When compared to the same period in 2008, the number of guests and nights decreased by 20.9 per cent and 17.3 per cent respectively.

During the first half-year of 2009, 229 181 guests stayed in Vilnius hotels and guesthouses, which is 19.9 per cent less than during the same period in 2008. From them 43 069 were Lithuanians and 186 112 foreign guests.
Compared to the same period in 2008, guests from foreign countries decreased by 16.6 per cent.

81.2 per cent of all the guests who stayed in Vilnius hotels and guesthouses were foreigners, most of whom were Poles (19.8 per cent). Germans took second place (9.8 per cent). The guests from Russia were third (9.6 per cent), tourists from the Latvia were fourth (6.9 per cent), and Finns were fifth (5.5 per cent).

Countries, from which Vilnius received the biggest number of guests in the first half-year of 2009, were the following: 
    Poland – 36 909 (17.5 per cent less than in the first half-year of 2008); 
    Germany – 18 227 (19.2 per cent less); 
    Russia – 17 831 (6 per cent less); 
    Latvia – 12 799 (4 per cent less); 
    Finland – 10 227 (22.1 per cent less); 
    Belarus – 8 980 (28.4 per cent more); 
    United Kingdom – 8 752 (43 per cent less); 
    France – 6 756 (6.9 per cent less); 
    Sweden – 6 006 (11.9 per cent less); 
    Estonia – 6 005 (33.7 per cent less);

Big decrease of Lithuanians in Vilnius hotels and guest houses had a big impact to the total decrease of guests.
During the first half-year of 2009, as compared to the same period in 2008, the number of guests from other Lithuanian cities and settlements to Vilnius hotels and guesthouses decreased by 31.9 per cent. In total, 43 069 Lithuanians were received in Vilnius hotels and guesthouses in the first half-year of 2009.

Indexes of room and bed occupancy in Vilnius hotels have decreased. In the first half-year of 2009, room occupancy reached 41.8 per cent, whereas during the same period in 2008, the indicator was 54.2 per cent. Bed occupancy in Vilnius hotels in the first half-year of 2009 reached 30.2 per cent, while during the same period in 2008 the indicator was 40.4 per cent. The biggest room and bed occupancy during the first half-year of 2009 was in June – 62.9 per cent and 48.4 per cent respectively.

During the first half-year of 2009, the biggest flow of tourists to Vilnius hotels and guests houses was in June. At that period 61 989 guests stayed in Vilnius hotels and guest houses, out of which 86.3 per cent were foreigners and 13.7 per cent Lithuanians.
According to the data of the Department of Statistics, during the first half-year of 2009, the number of tourists decreased in all Lithuanians accommodation establishments. Compared with the same period in 2008, the number of guests decreased by 22.1 per cent.

The number of tourists decreased not only in Lithuania. According to the preliminary data of World Tourism Organization (WTO), the number of tourists is decreasing in most countries of the world. During the first four months of 2009, compared to the same period in 2008, international tourism arrivals decreased by 8 per cent. The number of tourists 10 per cent decreased in Europe, 18 per cent – in Middle East, 6 per cent – in Asia and the Pacific, 5 per cent – in America. The number of tourists was growing only in North Africa (3 per cent) and in the part of Central and South America (0.2 per cent).

Differently from the data of the Department of Statistics, showing the big decreased of guests in Vilnius collective accommodation establishments, statistical data of Vilnius Tourism Information Centre shows increase. During the first half-year of 2009, in Vilnius Tourism Information Centre were 26 253 visitors, which is 27.4 per cent more than during the same period in 2008. From them 6 472 were Lithuanians and 19 781 foreign guests.


Basic Vilnius Tourism Statistics of 2008 

In 2008, Vilnius was visited by 1 602 000 foreign tourists. As compared to 2007, the number of tourists in the capital grew by 5 per cents.

 

In 2008, Vilnius hotels and guest houses accommodated 604 186 guests, it is 6 per cents more than in 2007.

 

80,05 per cents of all guests, who came to Vilnius hotels and guest houses were foreigners, most of whom were Poles – 18,2%. Germans took the second place – 10,6%. Guests from Russia took the third place – 8,6%. The fourth place took guests from United Kingdom – 6,3%. Guests from Finland took fifth place – 6,2%. Guests from Latvia were not far from Finnish – they constituted 6%.

 

Countries, from which Vilnius hotels and guests houses received the biggest number of guests in 2008, were the following:

 

      Poland – 87 869 (12,59 per cent more than in 2007);

      Germany – 51 347 (11,65 per cent more);

      Russia – 41 550 (49,52 per cent more);

      United Kingdom– 30 464 (4,7 per cent more);

      Finland – 30 043 (16,16 per cent more);

      Latvia – 28 790 (5,31 per cent more);

      Italy – 19 718 (4,03 per cent more);

      Estonia – 17 460 (17,15 per cent more);

      Belarus – 17 257 (23,77 per cent less);

      France – 16 112 (15,37 per cent more).

 

In 2008 rooms occupation in Vilnius hotels reached 55 per cent, whereas in 2007, the indicator was 55,4 per cent, in 2006 – 52,8 per cent.