Even though the number of travellers has increased, compared to the previous year, the number of recreational trips in 2007 has decreased by 13%. The number of recreational trips (trips to relatives and friends, for recreation in open air, sports activities, treatment, etc.) with crossing the border of a city/town or the administrative district was 15,991 thsd trips of which 12,697 thsd were same-day trips, 2,987 thsd –short trips and 307 thsd were long trips which lasted 4 and more days.

The most popular destinations of travellers in Latvia were Riga, Riga district and Jurmala where travellers preferred same-day trips without staying overnight. Riga was the destination for 24.9% of all recreational trips, but same-day trips (without staying overnight) comprised 28.2%. 11.8% of all the short recreational trips (1-3 visitor nights) were made to Riga and 13.5% of all long recreational trips around Latvia (4 and more visitor nights).

The average length of recreational trips was 2.2 visitor nights. For the long trips the average length was 7.3 visitor nights.

In the same-day trips travellers spent on average 14.9 lats, in short recreational trips – 19.7 lats, but in long recreational trips in Latvia travellers spent on average 36.4 lats.

Usually residents were accommodated in private lodgings when they made long recreational trips (4 and more visitor nights). Recreational trips were preferred by women (53%). The majority of travellers were aged 25-44 years.

The number of business trips with overnight stays within the borders of Latvia comprised 391.7 thsd. During one business trip one traveller spent on average 35.2 lats. Men constituted the majority of business travellers – 65%. The most typical age of residents going on business trips was 25–44 years.

Cars were the most often used transport vehicle for recreational and business trips.

Source: The Baltic Course