RIGA, Feb 15 (LETA) - The number of nights guests spent at Latvia's hotels and other tourist accommodation establishments in 2020 fell by 47.6 percent from the previous year to 2.889 million nights, the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) reported.

Foreign tourists spent 1.504 million nights at Latvia's hotels and other tourist accommodation establishments, down 60.9 percent on year, and the number of nights spent by local tourists dropped 16.5 percent to 1.385 million nights.

In 2020 the number of foreign and local guests comprised 1.463 million, which is 48.7 percent less than in 2019. The number of foreign guests comprised 715,000, down 17.6 percent from the previous year and the number of local guests dropped 17.6 percent on year to 748,000.

The statistics office reported that at the beginning of 2020 – in January and February – the number of visitors increased, but after the emergency situation in the country was declared on March 12 and later on November 9 travel opportunities both of resident and foreign visitors reduced, therefore, compared to the previous months, a drop was observed in the number of visitors.

The majority of foreign visitors came from Lithuania (178,400), Estonia (137,400), Russia (72,500), Finland (68,800), Germany (53,400), United Kingdom (25,400).

Out of foreign visitors 55.6 percent or 397,300 came from neighboring countries – Lithuania (25 percent), Estonia (19.2 percent), Russia (10.1 percent) and Belarus (1.3 percent).

Most foreign guests were hosted in Riga – 66.7 percent, Jurmala – 11.1 percent, Liepaja – 3.8 percent, Ventspils – 3.1 percent, Sigulda municipality – 1.9 percent, Daugavpils and Salacgriva municipality – 1.2 percent.

Latvian visitors stayed mostly in Riga (21.5 percent), Jurmala (9.9 percent), Liepaja (8 percent), Daugavpils (4 percent), Ventspils (3.6 percent), Sigulda municipality (2.9 percent), Salacgriva municipality and Daugavpils municipality (2.4 percent).