"Website traffic report confirms that 2013 was a special year for Lithuania and Vilnius, in particular. Successful events of the EU Presidency, Air Lituanica flights' debut in June and reports on Vilnius in the worlds' largest news sites – all this resulted in an increase of website traffic and general city promotion," said Jolanta Beniulienė, director of the Vilnius Tourist Information Centre.
Tourist website statistics shows that the number of visitors increased significantly in the second half of the year, with the most popular search items being: Christmas in Vilnius, tours, television tower and sightseeing, informs en.delfi.lt.
The neighbouring countries, having quick and convenient connections with Vilnius, lead the statistics of foreign web visitors. First positions among foreign countries are taken by Russia, Poland, Belarus, the United Kingdom, and Germany. People from as many as 187 countries in total visited the tourism website.
Meanwhile, the events website was mostly used by the citizens of Vilnius. Information on festivals, concerts, performances, parties, and various events could be found on the site. It is estimated that each month, the website provides information on 800 events. The folk music festival 'Skamba skamba kankliai', Culture Night, Shrove Tuesdays, and Midsummer Night celebrations are among the most popular events.
vilnius-events.lt – is the only website on events, where the information is presented in the Lithuanian, English and Russian languages which makes it particularly useful for the foreign guests of the Lithuanian capital. In 2013 Belarusians, Russians, British, Americans and Norwegians demonstrated the biggest interest in the events in Vilnius.
Vilnius is thus becoming increasingly known as a city of cultural tourism. While planning their vacation, tourists from abroad are looking for the information on the dates of upcoming festivals and traditional events.
Taking this into account, the major events of 2014 in Vilnius, Trakai and Kernave are already published on the event site, while Vilnius Tourist Information Centre is distributing a free printed calendar of events of 2014.
