Active and sports tourism Business Venture Tourism Business tourism Christmas tourism Culinary tourism Cultural Tourism Ecotourism Entertainment Tourism Folk Arts and Crafts Gastronomic Tourism Health Tourism Interests and Lifestyle Latvia’s regions Medical tourism Military Heritage Nature tourism Recreational Tourism Recreational/Sports Tourism Regions of Latvia Shopping tourism Sport Tourism Top news Tourism Industry News Latvian Tourism Newsletter
January, 2012
Top stories
Culture tourism
Following the highly successful chamber music concert series of the last season, which offered great atmosphere and varied program, the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra continues the series this season, inviting the audience to appreciate artistic mastery and ensemble skills of the orchestra’s greatest musicians at intimate chamber music evenings.
The orchestra’s Chamber...
The annual International Piano Stars Festival in the Latvian coastal city of Liepaja has grown to become one of the most important cultural events of the year, and has since become a very prestigious event in the Latvian cultural calendar, gathering many top musicians from Latvia and abroad. The festival’s program has also always been unique in itself.
This year’s festival...Entertainment tourism
Honoring pre-Christian traditions, local folklore groups will gather to once again welcome the sun and celebrate the spring equinox (March 20-21), or Easter as celebrated by the ancient Letts. These folklore groups will gather at the Latvian Ethnographic Open-Air Museum, Turaida Castle Park, and in other cities and historical castle parks throughout the country to celebrate the spring...
From February 20 to March 4, the charming Latvian town of Sigulda, which is also Latvia’s winter sports capital, will host a winter festival with the slogan - "More sports. More leisure. More art. More entertainment."
During the festival, several winter sporting competitions for the public will be held, as well as competitions for professionals. The festival will also have a wide...Shopping tourism
If you are visiting Latvia, you have most likely noticed the ethnic Latvian symbols and ethnographical ornaments on many objects. If you explore closer, you will be able to get acquainted with the art of ethnic hand-made wool blanket making in Latvia, which is an ancient profession steeped with much tradition.
The wool blankets made by local expert blanket-makers vary in color and...
Latvian wooden toy manufacturers continue to earn international recognition and praise for their high quality toys, made from natural materials. Furthermore, these toys offer an invaluable contribution towards the physical, aesthetic and character development of children.
The award winning Latvian company "Varis Toys" has earned much praise from parents and interest from children in...Active and sports tourism
The long Latvian winters can last until the end of March and even into April, which means that this is still a time when persons can go cross-country skiing through Latvia’s majestic forests. There many cross-country ski tracks of various distances and skill level throughout Latvia. Furthermore, for those who do not have the necessary equipment along with them, it is possible to...
It is likely that the most important event of the Latvian sports calendar in 2012 will take place on January 21, when Riga will host the annual Kontinental Ice Hockey League (KHL) All-Star Game.
Riga was chosen to host the game by the KHL mostly due to its fantastic fans, as well as to put on a show not only for Latvian, Russian and other regional hockey fans, but hockey lovers from...Health tourism
Every year, more and more people are choosing Latvia as a destination to improve their health. And there is a logical reason for this, as Latvia is able to offer the same high quality medical services as Western Europe, but for a fraction of the price.
Two of the leading reproductive health and fertility clinics in Latvia are the "EGV Klinika" and "Jusu Arsti" clinic.
The "EGV Klinika"...Culinary tourism
Latvia is a land of beer drinkers, where local brews are not only served in cozy pubs, but also in the best restaurants. Latvia produces a wide variety of different beers, and for a small country, has a surprising number of micro-breweries. As there is much competition and Latvians themselves are expert beer drinkers, the quality of the beer produced in Latvia is top notch.
Surveys of...
Recently, the famous Latvian herbal liqueur "Riga Black Balsam" has added a new flavor - "Riga Black Balsam Currant", which is a mix of the legendary Latvian alcoholic beverage with natural black-currant juice.
"Riga Black Balsam Currant" recently won two awards at an international exhibition.
The jury at the international "The Liqueur Master 2011" competition in London awarded "Riga...
Tourism industry news
This year, the Latvian capital Riga was one of the most popular places for Russian tourists to spend the New Year holidays, according to the Russian tourism portal "votpusk.ru".
As in previous years, Russian tourists bought out all the available New Year travel packages to countries were Russians like to traditionally enjoy the holidays - the Alps, Finland and the Czech Republic....
On December 2, the Riga City Council congratulated a couple from Sweden, who helped set the new annual visitor record in the city.
The couple, Stefan Karlsson and Susanna Backman from the Swedish town of Pitea, became the 1.2 millionth visitors to visit Riga this year. The couple were given a special jubilee coin from the Riga City Council, as well as free-round trip airfare to any...
For the summer season, Latvian national airline airBaltic will increase the number of flights to Austria, Germany and Switzerland for convenient travel via North Hub Riga to/from destinations in Scandinavia, Baltics, Russia/CIS.
Austria, Germany and Switzerland are important markets for airBaltic. By increasing flight frequencies to Vienna, Munich and Zurich, airBaltic will improve its...
From January 19 to 22, one of the largest tourism exhibitions in Northern Europe will take place in Helsinki called "Matka 2012". Also participating in the exhibition will be the Latvian Tourism Development Agency (TAVA).
Participating in the exhibition from Latvia will be representatives from various local governments, as well as those offering tourism services in Latvia – hotels,...Useful Information
The State Tourism Development Agency has set up an official tourist information hotline 1188 to heighten convenience and comfort for visitors while in Latvia, offering support, advice and trouble-shooting 24h in the English, German, Russian and Latvian languages.
Tourist Hotline 1188 offers:
• Informative support in emergency situations (for example, theft, scams,...
