Daugavpils City Municipality Tourism Development and Information Agency has summarised statistical data on the number of visits to tourism objects, culture and active recreation places in Daugavpils City in 2021.
The year 2021 was full of challenges and all Covid-19 restrictions significantly affected the tourism and hospitality industry, the flow of tourists has decreased due to the global situation. Therefore, the total number of visits to Daugavpils tourism, culture, active rest and sports establishments in 2021 was 199,407 people that is 39 % less than in 2020. The data was collected from 30 tourist attractions that kept a record of their visitors throughout the year.
The coronavirus pandemic has introduced new challenges and its own adjustments not only in the number of tourists, but also in geography. The flow of foreign tourists has decreased to 10 %, while domestic travellers, who make up 90 %, were quite active during the tourist season. The global pandemic created special conditions that have increased the interest of local tourists in the country’s tourism offer – Latvians are rediscovering Latvia. Most foreign tourists came from neighbouring Lithuania. Travellers also travelled from Poland, Estonia, Great Britain, Germany, Russia, Belarus, the USA and Ukraine, and in general, tourists from 42 countries visited Daugavpils. The most visited tourist attractions in Daugavpils in 2021 were Daugavpils Mark Rothko Art Centre, Daugavpils Fortress Culture and Information Centre and 1st Coast Lunette, Latgale Zoo, Shmakovka Museum, Daugavpils Regional Studies and Art Museum, Daugavpils Lead Shot Factory, Family Digital Activity Hub of Latgale Central Library, the exhibition of historical costumes “The Chest of Memory” (“Atmiņu lāde”) and the art gallery “White Horse” (“Baltais zirgs”), the exhibition of retro cars “RetroGaraž-D”. July and August were the months when objects were visited most.
The statistical data on the number of visitors of the Daugavpils Tourist Information Centre in 2021 has shown that a total number of information requests was 11 184. Compared to previous years, there is an increase in the proportion of domestic travellers – same as in all tourism-related attractions of the city, Latvian tourists occupy a dominant position – 91 % of all visitors. Local tourists, as well as foreign guests, were most interested in the tourism opportunities of the city, purchased souvenirs, as well as booked excursions.
Although the previous year was not very successful for tourism, Daugavpils has experienced many positive changes. The city has been is developing and the tourist offer has been expanding. For example, the Musical Square was set up at the Esplanade Rest Park, a new historical exhibition called “Nicholas Gate – Doors to the Past” and the promenade for walks along the Daugava River, as well as educational excursions on the electric bus was offered in Daugavpils Fortress. Besides, new conference hall “Konferenču telpa 13” was opened in Daugavpils Fortress. Fans of virtual games are invited to visit the new virtual reality space “Arcanum”, which offers more than 30 games of all genres, suitable for both adults and children. New cafes and restaurants were opened in 2021 – “Dubrovin Bar and Grill”, “Buffet”, “Testo”, “RAI”, tea house “Magic Touch”. The brightest cultural event of the summer 2021 can be considered the Latgalian Hospitality and Tradition Festival “Gostūs Latgolā”, which took place at the end of July in the very centre of the city, on Vienības Square. The aim of the event was to give its participants an idea of Latgale’s culinary heritage, traditions and history of Daugavpils and Latgale region.
Daugavpils City Municipality Tourism Development and Information Agency systematically collects and summarises information on tourism development in Daugavpils City, conducts researches and surveys related to tourists, summarises information on the number of visitors to the city’s tourism objects, as well as cultural, active recreation and sports attractions.
Photo: Andrejs Jemeljanovs
