Lithuania's main spa towns of Birštonas and Druskininkai are seeing an increase in local customers, as well as visitors from neighbouring EU countries.
"Today, the loss of tourists [from Russia and Belarus] has been taken up by Lithuanians, who account for about 80 percent. Foreigners have also started to choose longer stays," said Rimantas Palionis, head of the Druskininkai Tourism Information Centre.
Druskininkai receives around 400,000 visitors every year. The drop in tourists from Belarus and Russia is being compensated with an increase in local tourism, as well as visitors from Latvia, Poland, and Russian speakers from Germany and Israel.
Birštonas, meanwhile, welcomes around 200,000 guests, staying for at least one night, every year. There is a noticeable increase in the number of Estonians and visitors from the United Kingdom visiting the resort.
"The number of overnight stays has increased by four to seven percent, while the number of overnight stays by foreigners has increased by almost 29 percent," said Vytas Kederys, Deputy Mayor of Birštonas.
The number of Lithuanians in resorts has also increased in the summer. However, there is a tendency to stay shorter.
"People are saving a bit. They stay for two to five days at most," said Kęstutis Ramanauskas, director of Druskininkai Medical Spa. "It is difficult to achieve long-term health benefits in such a short period."
However, the resorts are noticing an uptick in foreign campers.
"It's a good season and the number of foreigners is definitely increasing. We have seen groups of twenty camping vans in other parts of Lithuania, which is a very good sign," said Linas Žabaliūnas, co-owner of Birštonas campsite.
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