Lithuanian hotels expect additional profit from papal visit (media)

VILNIUS – Lithuanian hotels and other accommodation establishments expect additional profit from the upcoming visit of Pope Francis as the flow of tourists usually drops in fall, the Lietuvos Rytas daily writes.

A growing number of foreign worshippers, mainly from Poland, are already looking for accommodation in the fall, with some hotels being fully-booked already and even making waiting lists in case someone cancels their order.

Evalda Siskauskiene, president of the Lithuanian Association of Hotels and Restaurants, says that although some hotels can hardly accommodate everyone, others lack clients.

"All hotels in central Vilnius are already booked for those days. But hotels located further away from the city center have not felt any increase in clients' attention," she said.

Pope Francis will visit Lithuania on Sep. 22-23 and will then travel to Latvia and Estonia.