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Tourism in Lithuania

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Tourism in Lithuania
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Lithuania attracts many visitors from neighbouring countries and from all over the world. In 2018,there were 1.7 million foreign visitors to Lithuania for business, family and leisure.[1] The historical legacy of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, its rich history, architecture, pristine nature, seaside and spa resorts are the main attraction points of Lithuania. Domestic tourism is also highly popular: in 2018 it grew by 12%. Lithuanians also prefer to spend their vacations in Lithuania – 70 percent.[clarification needed][2]

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Restored Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania in Vilnius
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Pažaislis Monastery
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Overview

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Lithuania receives a constant increase in foreign visitors. In 2017, the accommodation establishments of Lithuania received 3.25 million tourists, which was 6.2 per cent more than in 2016.[3] Lithuania attracts foreign visitors mostly from Germany, Poland, Russia, Latvia, Belarus, the United Kingdom, Estonia and Finland.

In 2017 hotels received 2.2 million tourists, or 7 per cent more than in 2016. The number of Lithuanian tourists grew by 12.8 per cent, and foreigners by 3.3 per cent. The hotel room occupancy rate stood at 54.3 per cent (in 2016, 51.7 per cent), and the hotel bed occupancy rate at 41.4 per cent (in 2016, 39.7 per cent).[3]

Agrotourism has also gained extreme popularity in the country among the locals as well as foreigners. Ecotourism is actively promoted by the government and national parks. Lithuania has built a successful ecotourism industry, and has also been acknowledged as one of the world's most ethical destinations. Hot air ballooning is very popular in Lithuania, especially in Vilnius and Trakai. Theme routes through historical and nature sites are popular among domestic and international tourists. Nemunas Delta Regional Park, Žuvintas biosphere reserve and Ventė Cape are known for birdwatching.[4] There are tourism information centres in all major cities and smaller towns, national parks and other places, attractive for domestic or international tourism.[5]

If a tour has a guide who is "interpreting the cultural and natural heritage of an area", Lithuania requires the guide have a guiding license. This definition follows the European standard for tour guiding (CEN). Licensed Tourist Guides are the only professionals permitted to conduct tours in all sites and museums within a city. Licensed guides are required in those areas where the local authorities state that one of them is mandatory.[6] There is a Guides Database to find a guide in your language as well.[7]

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Statistics

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Arrivals by country

The top 10 foreign countries by annual short-term visitors to Lithuania:[8]

  Record year
More information Country, Total foreign ...
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Notable places

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Nida is a resort settlement in Lithuania, on the Curonian Spit, and the westernmost point of Lithuania and the Baltic States.
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Hot air balloons over Vilnius

Cities

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Church of St. Anne, Vilnius
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Minija is known for water tourism

Towns and villages

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Kernavė
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Specific destinations

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Protected areas and cultural heritage objects

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Sand dunes in Kuršių Nerija National Park
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Curonian Lagoon, view from the Agila dune in Neringa

Lithuania has 1160 protected cultural and natural areas.[12] Among them are 30 regional parks and 5 national parks and 6 strict reserves.

There are also 35 814 cultural heritage objects throughout the country protected by the Department of Cultural Heritage.[13][14]

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Cultural routes

In 2019 Cultural Route of Lithuanian composer Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis was opened which leads through the places in Varėna, Druskininkai, Kaunas, Vilnius, Plungė, Rietavas, Palanga where composer has lived.[15]

Cognitive or sightseeing routes (Pažintinis takas) are highly popular among domestic tourists. Usually they lead through unique places in nature, where the visitor can enjoy the nature and local history while walking some predefined path.

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Pilgrimage sites

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Žemaičių Kalvarija Church.

Lithuania has many holy sites, especially in Samogitia, which are worth a visit.

Major pilgrimage sites:

Resorts

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Golden sand beach in Palanga

Lithuania has 4 official resorts and 5 resort territories.[16]

Resorts

  • Birštonas – a balneological resort and a spa town, surrounded by pine forests.
  • Druskininkai – a developed spa town with the largest water park in the Eastern Europe, the Snow Arena – one of the biggest indoor skiing slopes in Europe. The Water Park and the Snow Arena connected with the cable car.[17]
  • Neringa - a world heritage site with unique nature, including resort settlements of Nida and Juodkrantė
  • Palanga – the summer capital of Lithuania with sandy beaches
  • Šventoji - a resort town on the coast of the Baltic sea

Resort territories

  • Anykščiai – ski resort and spa Town in middle Lithuania
  • Ignalina and the villages of Palūšė and Strigailiškis [lt]
  • Kulautuva-Kačerginė-Zapyškis – traditional spa treatment area for forest recreation on bank of Nemunas River in Kaunas district
  • Trakai – natural, anthropogenic lake-rich city with a historical world heritage site, near to Vilnius
  • Zarasai – a city in nordeastern Lithuania, surrounded by many lakes and rivers

Former places

  • Likėnai – a resort with mineral springs.
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Military heritage

The country has some military sites left and may be very interesting place as a place of militarism heritage tourism. It might be interesting for anyone who is interested in history of the warfare or the Cold War.

Major militarism heritage sites in Lithuania:

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Bicycle tourism

More information EuroVelo 10 ...
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Signage for EuroVelo 11, Vilnius, Lithuania.

Bicycle tourism is growing, especially in Lithuanian Seaside Cycle Route. EuroVelo routes EV10, EV11, EV13 go through Lithuania. Total length of bicycle tracks amounts to 3769 km (of which 1988 km is asphalt pavement).[19] Most known bicycle routes are: Nemunas River Cycle Route, Suvalkija Cycle Circuit, Lithuanian Seaside Cycle Route. Most of the Tourism information centres and national parks have their local thematic bicycle route plans.

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Festivals

Museums

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The names of the executed Lithuanian partisans are carved on the basement wall of the Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights
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The Historical Presidential Palace in Kaunas

Museums include:

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See also

References

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