Tourism Sector Dynamics: Growth Trends, Visitor Flows, and Economic Impact

In 2024, the number of inbound tourist trips and overnight stays decreased by 1 and 3.7 per cent respectively, despite continuous annual growth since 2020, with only a slight decline in 2024.

The tourism sector’s value added, compared to total output, reached 2.7 per cent in 2023 – a figure that is approaching the pre-pandemic level again. The number of people employed in the sector is also increasing: in 2023, nearly 50,000 people were employed in tourism-related activities. The accommodation and food service sectors predominate in the industry. Enterprises providing travel services are not among the dominant employers in terms of staff numbers.

Inbound Tourism

In 2023, Lithuania welcomed 2.4 million foreign tourists, who generated more than EUR 950 million in expenditures. The largest share of international visitors came from Latvia, Poland, Germany, and Estonia. It is important to note that Vilnius and Kaunas remain the main tourist attraction hubs: 58 per cent and 13 per cent of all accommodated foreign tourists chose accommodation establishments in these cities, respectively.

Domestic Tourism: Growing Interest in Lithuania

In 2024, domestic tourism reached record highs, with more than 4.6 million trips and over 10.5 million overnight stays recorded. The most popular cities and resorts among Lithuanian tourists were Palanga (16 pe cent), Vilnius (15 per cent), and Druskininkai (11 per cent). Domestic travellers most often used passenger cars, and average spending per trip exceeded EUR 110.

Both Supply and Demand on the Rise

Lithuanian residents are more and more frequently choosing trips with tourism package travels: in 2024, the number of such trips reached nearly 3.8 million. Among the most popular destinations were Turkey, Greece, and Egypt. At the same time, foreign tourists visiting Lithuania are also using package travels more actively: the number of such trips exceeded 41,000 over the year.

Challenges and Perspectives

Despite growing indicators, the sector continues to face challenges related to labor shortages, seasonality, and infrastructure development. Nevertheless, long-term forecasts indicate that Lithuania remains competitive in the region, and the tourism sector will continue to make a significant economic contribution.

The State Data Agency (Statistics Lithuania) will continue to consistently monitor and analyze the development of the sector, ensuring data accessibility for strategic planning and decision-making.

Learn more about the data here. 

Last updated: 26-05-2025

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