Summer in Palanga was not sad even without foreign tourists: two new types of local vacationers stood out

At the time, the director of the Palanga Hotel and Restaurant Association, Ingrida Valaitienė, said that entrepreneurs had to get acquainted with Lithuanians who had been on vacation abroad in previous years on “all-inclusive” trips.

The season lasts longer

According to preliminary data from the Department of Statistics, in the second quarter of this year, almost 0.5 million people stayed in Lithuanian accommodation establishments. tourists, or 75 percent. more than during the same period last year.

In April this year, compared to the same period last year, four times more tourists stayed, in May 2.7 times, and in June almost a third more tourists. During the last six months, a total of 615 thousand people stayed in accommodation establishments in Lithuania. people, of which 504 thousand. – Residents of Lithuania.

In June 2020, 207 thousand people stayed in the lodging establishments of the country. tourists. July and August were even more successful months for hotels last year, and most tourist accommodation establishments received in August 2019 – they accepted almost 550,000. guests.

R. Kmitienė told Delfi that in recent years the seasonality of resorts has been distorted due to COVID-19 and quarantine.

“However, compared to 2019, the tourist season is getting longer. It can be said that we do not divide” season “and” low season “, but we use the terms” active tourist period “and” passive tourist period “.

We could safely say that there are 6 active months and 6 passive months, but that does not mean that there is no tourist activity then. There is the arrival of guests, classes in various activities, rejuvenation, health treatments, “he said.

The interviewee explained that in Palanga it had not ended in September and summer.

“However, it can already be said that this year they were better in terms of tourists from abroad. Yes, mostly, like last year, there were Lithuanians, and in early July there were guests from Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Germany and Poland. However, there were few of them, around 10-15%.

The pandemic situation forced us to look at our work a little differently, to analyze more Lithuanian tourists coming to the Palanga coast and all over Lithuania: what are their expectations, wishes and needs. It required creativity. We believe that the work started last year gave results, ”said R. Kmitienė, adding that before the pandemic, tourists from abroad represented 50 and more percent.

The interlocutor expressed the hope that state borders will be freely opened to travelers as soon as possible.

“They are still open with some reservations. It is possible to travel in isolation, with vaccine passports, in other ways. Hopefully, we will see trends, and we will see what they will be like when the next season arrives.

For now, according to what comes to our resort, Palanga’s guest has really changed. The majority are young families who, during the pandemic, if they had the opportunity to work remotely, chose the Palanga spa as a “work holiday” destination, a place where they could work remotely and regain strength in the afternoons, other members of the family just living outdoors, “hee said.

Waiting for you to come back

I. Valaitienė said that this summer Lithuanians really made up for the lack of foreign tourists.

“In previous years, when we did not have a pandemic, the relationship was quite different, the Lithuanians did not like it that much, they did not ‘adore’ local tourism. It is the bright side of the pandemic that discovered it. We don’t care what that job is, what those vacationers are. The result is important to us.

Both this summer and last summer, we met a Lithuanian who had been on vacation abroad in previous years, “all inclusive” in travel. They felt that they were used to receiving many services that were included in the total price.

This is a natural need and attitude for people traveling abroad. There was such a transition. However, we cannot say anything bad, everything is in order, we are glad that Lithuanians have discovered Lithuanian resorts, ”he said.

I. Valaitienė explained that Palanga is ready to accept any segment of vacationers.

“Each object and brand has its own customer, its own segment. Some focus on a younger audience, others on families with children. It depends on how well your infrastructure is nurtured and adapted.

Palanga resort has all the segments, because the accommodation offer is very wide. From hotels to cabins, villas. We cannot single out one, the complex is friendly to everyone. For example, they come with animals, ”he said.

However, the interlocutor admitted that he is waiting for the end of the pandemic and the return of foreign tourists.

“At that time we will fill faster,” he explained.

Positively appreciates

Angelina Ivanova, deputy director of Tourism at the Nida Agila Cultural and Tourist Information Center, told Delfi that she will be able to evaluate the results of this season a little later, when all the statistics, such as the number of tourists staying in the accommodation and others will be available.

“However, in general, last summer the businessmen of Neringa valued it quite positively: the excellent weather pampered and Neringa received a large number of tourists. Even before the start of the season, most accommodations shared their booking statistics, which ranged from 70% to 80%, and in some places up to 100%.

Until we have all the statistics, we cannot compare this summer and last summer, but we note that last summer not only local tourists but also guests from Latvia, Estonia visited Neringa (apparently the Baltic bubble contributed to this), and this season after tourists from Germany, Austria and Switzerland are coming back a bit, ”he said.