Travel Trends from the Baltic States: Economy, Destinations and Tourist Profiles

We have gathered here information about Baltic countries as target market areas. There are normally in February in all these three countries their own travel fairs. The fair starts from Tourest 2026 in Tallinn 13.2 – 15.2.2026.

Economic Overview: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania

The three Baltic states — Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania — each use the euro as their currency and have faced similar economic pressures in recent years, including inflation spikes and slower GDP growth across the region. After high inflation following global disruptions, annual price increases have now moderated significantly compared with the double-digit inflation rates seen in 2022; for example, inflation in Estonia stood at around 3.8 % in late 2024, Latvia around 2.3 % and Lithuania around 1.1 %, closer to or below the euro-area average.

GDP Growth Forecasts for 2026 and 2027

Gross domestic product (GDP) trends have varied: Here’s the most up-to-date available GDP growth forecast for the Baltic countries (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania) for 2026 and 2027 based on recent economic outlooks (primarily from the European Commission and other forecasts):

Estonia

2026: GDP growth is projected at 2.1 %.

2027: GDP growth is projected at 2.0 %.
This forecast comes from the European Commission’s latest autumn outlook, which expects Estonia’s economy to strengthen moderately with rising consumption and investment supporting growth.

Latvia

2026: GDP growth is forecast around 1.7 % to 1.9 % according to the European Commission.

2027: Growth is expected to increase to around 1.9 %.
The EC sees private consumption and investment as the main drivers of growth over this period.

Note: Some private sector forecasts (e.g., from a Finnish economist) are slightly more optimistic — projecting up to 2.5 % in 2026 and around 3 % in 2027 — but the official EC figures provide the most consistent baseline.

Lithuania

2026: GDP is forecast to grow by about 3.0 %.

2027: Growth is expected to moderate slightly, at around 2.1–2.2 %.
These projections reflect continued strong domestic demand and investment, alongside solid consumption trends.

Source: European Commission economic forecasts (autumn 2025 releases).

Wage growth in all three countries has generally outpaced inflation in recent years, supporting household incomes. In Estonia, for instance, average gross wages climbed substantially over the past decade, even though they remain below many EU averages; in 2023 the gross average wage was about €1 800 per month.

Outbound Travel: Destinations & Trends

Baltic residents are active travelers, often within Europe.

Estonian Travelers

According to Statistics Estonia, Estonian residents made over 1.5 million overnight trips abroad in 2024, up slightly from 2023. Domestic trips remain more frequent, but European destinations dominate overseas travel. The most common outbound destinations for Estonians included Finland, Latvia, Sweden, Spain and Italy, while Turkey was the top non-EU choice. Leisure and holiday travel accounted for a large share of trips.

Estonia’s proximity to other Baltic capitals and Nordic countries makes short breaks popular — for example Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius are frequent stops for regional tourism. Within Estonia itself, Harju (including Tallinn), Tartu and Pärnu counties are popular domestic destinations.

Latvian Travelers

Latvian residents increased their outbound travel after the pandemic. In 2022 and 2023, Latvian travelers most often visited neighbouring countries: Lithuania and Estonia accounted for the majority of same-day and overnight trips, but they also traveled to Italy, Spain, Poland, Germany and Turkey among other countries.

These patterns show both regional mobility within the Baltics — Latvians visiting Estonia and Lithuania — and broader European travel preference. Overnight stays abroad often lasted around 6 nights, with significant expenditure on transport and accommodation.

Lithuanian Travelers

Lithuania has seen growth in outbound travel as well, with tourist infrastructure steadily expanding. Accommodation data shows millions of visitors choosing Lithuanian destinations such as Vilnius, Trakai and beach towns like Palanga, and Lithuanian travelers are similarly oriented toward European trips.

Across all Baltic states, neighbouring countries and regional capitals are frequent travel choices, but longer-haul leisure destinations in Southern Europe (e.g., Spain, Italy, Turkey) also feature prominently on annual travel lists.

Travel Seasons and Traveller Profiles

Balts travel year-round, but clear tourist seasonality exists: summer months tend to see peak holiday travel, often to beach and cultural destinations both within the Baltics and abroad. Short city breaks and visits to friends and relatives are popular outside peak holiday periods. Historic city centers like Tallinn’s Old Town, Riga’s Jugendstil district and Vilnius’s baroque core remain draws for leisure travel.

Typical traveler profiles from the Baltic states include families during school holidays, young adults seeking cultural and leisure experiences, and older travelers favoring longer stays at Mediterranean or regional beach destinations.

Conclusion & Invitation

Outbound travel from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania reflects both strong regional connections — particularly among the Baltic capitals and neighbouring EU countries — and broader engagement with European holiday destinations. These travel patterns are supported by improving economic conditions, rising wages and continued interest in leisure experiences across borders.

ToolBox Consulting will again be at Tourest 2026, stand FG6. We warmly welcome you to visit us!