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Lithuania is the largest country among the three Baltic states and with its 3 million 500 thousand population it has been a member of the EU since 2004. Lithuania has a parliamentary democracy and won its independence from the Soviet Union in 1990. Per capita national income is approximately 15 thousand US dollar. Lithuania’s population 84 percent is ethnically is Lithuanian and official language is Lithuanian. Among the minorities,, with 7 percent the Poles have the biggest ratio and the Russians have 6 percent. According to the data obtained form Lithuania Statistic Department,, in 2005 Lithuania citizens made, except business trips, 3 million 831 trips to other countries. 57 percent of trips were daily visits. Number of trips for tourism purposes was 1 million 198 thousand. Based on the information obtained from the same source, in tourism trips Russia is the most popular destination with 16.8 percent share and it is followed by Belarus with 14.9 percent. The share of Germany which is coming on the 3rd rank is 13.6 percent. But, it is indicated that Lithuanians who go abroad in packet tours organized buy tour operators or travel agencies have prefers Turkey more than any other country.

Russia is the most popular destination for daily trips (39.6 percent) and it is followed by Belarus (22.7 percent), Poland (20 percent), and Latvia (17.5 percent). The most important factor in preferring Russia and Poland for daily visit is shopping. Latvia and Belarus are mostly visited for family relative visits and business purposes. Visits of family relatives have the largest share (30percent) in tourism trips conducted in foreign countries and it is followed by business trips (29 percent), and sightseeing-entertainment trips (27 percent). Average stay time in foreign trips is 9.6 nights. Daily average spending is 57 US dollars. According to the data obtained from Lithuania Statistic Department, in 2005 the highest spending was made in Holland with daily average 164 US dollars. I Finland and Czech Republic on the average 155 US dollars have been spent.

Turkey is the most preferred country in foreign packet tours

According to the data obtained from Lithuania Statistics Department 1 million 198 thousand foreign trips have been made in 2005 and among thee people 194 Lithuania citizen have conducted its trips through a tour operator or a travel agency (compared to 2004 there is approximately 235 percent increase). On the average 7.75 nights are spent in the packet tours and Turkey has the highest ratio with 18 percent. Compared to 2004, number of Lithuanian s visiting Turkey has increased by 15 percent. In the same year Lithuanians have spent approximately 237 million US dollars for packet tours.

Relations with Turkey

According to the information obtained form the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, in the year of 2005, 50 thousand 481 Lithuanians came to Turkey. (Above we have indicated that 35 thousand 200 of these Lithuanians came to tour country through packet tours). 2006 has been a year of recession for Lithuania market. Number of visitors coming from this country to Turkey decreased by 3.99 percent. However, in the first eight months of this year, number of people coming from this country has increased as much 46.12 percent. While76 percent of Lithuanian who came in 2006 stayed in Antalya, Istanbul was the second city with 11 percent.

The Turkish Airlines does not have flight between Lithuania and Turkey.  Lithuania Airways FlyLAL has two flights a week from Vilnius to Istanbul. From Vilnius to Antalya, Dalaman and Bodrum there are charter flights too. Price is very important for the Lithuanians Interviews have been conducted with some travel agencies who provide services in Lithuania market and from their perspective the Lithuanian especially prefer Turkey because they find the prices reasonable for the offered services and emphasized that the interest in Turkey has increased over the last few years. Emphasizing the fact that over the last few years in Lithuania, both tour operators and travel agencies, and media have conducted several advertisements about Turkey, it has been indicated that by appropriating a good advertisement budget and developing cultural interactions between the two countries many more Lithuanians would come to Turkey in the next years. When the number of Turkish citizens going to Lithuania is considered, while this was 753 in 2005, in 2006 by 144 percent increase this figure reached 1897 people.

Lithuania Tourism Data

According to the data obtained from Lithuania Statistic Department, there are 212 hotels, 78 guest houses, and 41 motels in the country. 83 percent of the accommodation centres belong to private companies and the state or municipalities own 4 percent of these facilities. Foreigners share is approximately 13 percent. In 2006, 1 million 526 thousand people accommodated in Lithuania’s hotel and similar tourist facilities. Half of these people were Lithuanians and among foreign visitors Germans have the highest number. Germany is followed by Poland, Russia, Latvia, England and Belarus. In foreign visitors who go to Lithuania, share of the EU member countries is about 75 percent. According to the data from Lithuania Statistic Department, most of the tourists visiting this country prefer railway and this is followed by airways and highways. In visits to Lithuania share of packet tours is only 7 percent. Most of the tourists prefer to there by their own opportunities in Lithuanian foreigners have spent, on the average, 367 US dollars in 2005. Russians, on the average, spent 485 dollars per person and tourists from the EU member countries spent approximately 400 dollars. Average spending in business trips goes up to 630 dollars but in holiday & pleasure trips this figure is about 319 dollars. Based on the information obtained from the same source, 14 percent of spending is made for eating-drinking activities, 11 percent for accommodation, 3 percent for souvenirs, 2 percent for transportation, and 1 percent for sightseeing. There is no data about where 33 percent of spending is made. There are 226 tour operators and 112 travel agencies in Lithuania. 200 of these organizations are providing foreign travel services, number of organizations providing incoming services is 93.

Vilnius 2009 Europe Cultural Capital

In 2009 Lithuania’s capital Vilnius is getting ready for being, along with Austria’s Linz city, Europe’s Cultural capital. For this purpose, hundreds of activities with themes like European Arts and Humanity are being planned. Activities will be started in 2007-2008 and will be carried on until 2009. You can reach detailed information about activities in Vilnius, 2009 Europe Cultural Capital here.

Growth in Lithuania Economy

Economy of Lithuania has experienced high growth rates over the last years. The Lithuanian economy which grew 7.5 percent in 2006, over the last year’s experience, on the average, 7 percent growth. According to the information presented from Lithuanian Ministry of Economy, the competition which started with the EU membership has caused the development in the country’s economy.

Important addresses in Tourism

Lithuania Tourism Union (LTU) is the most important and oldest tourism union in the country and tour operators, travel agencies, companies in transportation and accommodation industry are members of this union.

LTU organizes tourism fairs, follows the negotiations with the government about tourism, conducts researches related to the sector, etc. from LTU’s web page you can reach detailed information about its members and their areas of operation.

* A.Juozapaviciaus g. 13-501, 09311, Vilnius

Tel./fax 370 5 272 6191

E-mail. info@ltas.lt,  www.ltas.lt

Lithuania Hotel and Restaurants’ Union

Jasinskio g. 16, LT-2001 Vilnius

Tel./fax 370 5 249 7478, Tel. (370 686) 51148

E-mail lvra@mail.lt

http://lithuanianhotels.com/LHRA/

Lithuania Tourism Information Centers

Vilniaus g. 213, LT-5400 Siauliai

Tel. 370 41 523110, Fax 370 41 523111,

E-mail tourism.info@siauliai.lt

Lithuania Youth Hostels Union

P.O.Box 12, LT-2000 Vilnius

Filaretu g. 17, Vilnius

Tel./fax 370 5 216 2660

E-mail lyh@jnakv.vno.soros.lt

Lithuania Camping Centers Union

Slenio 1, Trakai, Lithuania

Tel 370 698 75503, 370 686 90022

E-mail viktorija@viktorija.lt, onajolanta@delfi.lt

Lithuania Travelers’ Union

Zemaites 6, LT-2600 Vilnius

Tel. 370 5 233 5930, fax 370 5 213 5255

E-mail algis.j@centras.lt

Lithuania Rural Tourism Union

Donelaicio g. 2, LT-3000 Kaunas

Tel. 370 37 400 354, fax 370 37 400 350

E-mail: regina@zur.lt

Vilnius Region Rural Tourism Union

Liciunai, Paberze, LT-15100, Vilnius district, Lithuania

telephones:  +370 698 20271, +370 5 2469463

e-mail vincas@draudikai.lt

Lithuania Mountaineers Union

E-mail: ksc@tdd.lt

Lithuania Museum Union

Saltoniskiu g. 58, LT-2001 Vilnius 

Tel./fax: 370 5 279 0918

E-mail: muzasoc@takas.lt

http://www.museums.lt/Index_En.htm

Lithuanian Cyclists' Community

Vilties g. 6, Klaipeda

Tel. 370 46 412484 Fax 370 46 380650

E-mail: LDB@dviratis.lt

www.dviratis.lt