Photo: PassportNews Riga continues to break records: a 15.8% increase in the number of foreign tourists in 2024.
The capital of Latvia, Riga, marks another particularly successful year in tourism with a significant increase in the number of foreign visitors.
In 2024, the number of foreign guests in the city's hotels reached 1.1 million - an increase of 15.8% compared to the previous year.
December 2024 – the strongest month since 2019
Tourism data from last December show that it was the most successful month for tourism in the city since 2019, indicating that Riga has become a sought-after destination all year round.
Where did tourists come from to Riga?
Several countries stood out in their growth:
Lithuania – the leading source of tourism, with an increase of 7.4% in visitor numbers.
Germany – an impressive 30% increase in tourist visits.
Sweden – a rise of 27.7% in Swedish tourists.
Norway – a 20.3% increase in visits to the city.
Poland – a growth of 16.2% in the number of Polish visitors.
Finland – an increase of 6.9% in tourism from the country.
It should be noted that Riga, the capital of Latvia, ranks among the top 5 Christmas markets in Europe, and also secured fourth place in the ranking of the best destinations in Europe.
In a comprehensive survey involving 753,000 travelers from 152 countries, who chose Riga's Christmas market as one of the most magical festive destinations.
The national airline of Latvia based in Riga - airBaltic is also renewing flights to Israel on April 2nd, is on a significant upswing, and last November reported a record number of 400,600 passengers, an increase of 23% compared to November of the previous year.
Aircraft occupancy also reached a high of 81.8%, an increase of 8.5 percentage points compared to the same period in 2023.
With excellent tourism data and continuous growth, Riga proves that it is not just a winter or summer destination, but a vibrant tourist city suitable for all seasons.