Last year, the number of tourists in Jurmala increased by 79.4% compared to 2021. According to the data of the Central Statistics Office, this is more than the average in the country, where the number of tourists has increased by 66.2%.
Jurmala is still the second most popular destination among local and foreign tourists. Compared to 2019, before the pandemic, the number of tourists was 10.6% lower.
Last year, mainly local tourists and tourists from Lithuania spent the night in the city. In 2019, local tourists made up less than 33% of the total number of tourists, and in 2022 – 51%.
The total number of overnight stays increased by 52.1% compared to 2021, but compared to 2019, the indicator is still 33.4% lower. The average length of stay has remained unchanged – 2.5 days. The longest stay was in the 1st quarter of 2022, reaching 3.4 days. Tourists from Ukraine have stayed the longest in the city – 4.2 days, Estonia – 3.7 days and Lithuania – 3 days.
Most foreign tourists visited Jurmala in July, and local tourists – in August. In general, the most tourists have traditionally been in summer, August, and the least in January.
The average occupancy of beds in tourist accommodations in 2022 was 41.5%, it increased by 14.9% compared to 2021, but was 7.9% less compared to 2019. The highest occupancy was in resort hotels, especially in the 3rd quarter of the year, when it reached 72.2%.
Analyzing the distribution of the city’s guests by country, it can be concluded that in 2022 there were the most local tourists from Latvia, followed by the other Baltic countries, explains the municipality. Also compared to 2019, the number of local tourists and the number of tourists from Lithuania continued to increase. Both in Jūrmala and in Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Germany and Finland are the priority countries where marketing activities to attract tourists are targeted.
Jurmala Tourism Information Center has developed new tourist routes. Several new environmental and infrastructural objects were opened in Jurmala last year, as well as activities to attract tourism, said Aleksandra Stramkale, head of the Tourism Communication Department. The Ķemeri historical park with a water tower has become an important tourist attraction, where we are developing the offer so that it is more and more attractive to the city’s guests.
In 2022, one of the most ambitious projects was implemented – Kauguri recreation park with wide recreational opportunities was opened, a wellness nature trail was created in the coastal dune area from Dubulti to Pumpurii, a new sculpture “Ķemeru Anniņa” was opened in Ķemeros, an environmental object “Baltijas strame” was created at the exit to the sea in Bulduris “, a large-format inscription “Jūrmala” has been created on Majoru beach, which has become a popular photo spot for tourists.
There are new offers at the Jūrmala Open Air Museum – a restored fishing vessel “Undīne”, the Jūrmala honorary dress can be viewed, a new permanent exhibition dedicated to Jūrmala’s wooden architecture has been created at the Jūrmala Cultural Space and Environmental Design Center, which tells about the carved decorations of Jūrmala’s historical architecture.
