According to Statistics Estonia, a total of 80,272 guests were accommodated in Tartu during the summer months, who spent a total of 131,224 nights here. Compared to the summer of last year, there were 7% more guests, and the number of foreign tourists increased by as much as 15%.
Mayor Urmas Klaas said that this year the European Capital of Culture offered a great opportunity to introduce Tartu on an international level. ‘The increase in the number of tourists, especially among foreigners, shows that the Capital of Culture Tartu 2024, with its programme and message, resonated with people, while also reaching far and wide. Tartu is truly an open, inspiring, and exciting city, able to offer unique experiences to both local residents and guests from all over the world,’ Klaas said.
There were 15% more foreign tourists compared to the summer of last year and 16% more overnight stays. The number of German tourists increased by 78%, Lithuanians by 69%, Finns by 6%, and guests from Great Britain by 329%.
In August, there were a total of 14,502 foreign visitors, which is 13% more than in August 2023. There were 26,307 overnight stays of foreign tourists in August, which is 22% more than the previous year. The average number of nights spent here in August was 1.81 for foreign tourists, which was higher than in July (1.74), and June (1.66). Throughout the summer, the average number of nights spent here was 1.63 for domestic tourists and 1.74 for foreigners.
The occupancy rate of rooms in Tartu averaged 72% during the summer months – 73% in August, 75% in July, and 69% in June. Only Tallinn beat Tartu in terms of room occupancy throughout the summer, where it was 77% in August, 81% in July, and 75% in June. The occupancy rate for beds in August, in Tartu, was the highest in Estonia, i.e. 64%. The occupancy rate for rooms in Pärnu was 67% in August, 74% in July, and 61% in June. The average occupancy rate in Estonia was 57% throughout the summer and August.
In August 2024, there were 36 registered accommodation establishments, 1,108 rooms and 2,312 beds in Tartu. Of the accommodation establishments in Estonia (1,235), 3% (36) are located in Tartu, 10% (120) in Tallinn, and 6% (79) in Pärnu.
A total of 217,258 guests were accommodated throughout Southern Estonia during the summer months, spending a total of 390,668 nights here. Throughout Estonia, 1,353,368 guests stayed at accommodation establishments and spent a total of 2,480,498 nights in Estonia. Nearly 16% of all overnight stays took place in Southern Estonia.
More information: Annika Ojasaar, Tartu County Tourism Foundation, Head of Tourism, +372 5886 7883, annika.ojasaar@visittartu.com.