International Internet Magazine. Baltic States news & analytics
Monday, 20.05.2013, 19:40
"Gumball 3000" automobiles to be displayed for general public in downtown Riga
10.05.2013"Gumball 3000" rally participants will arrive in Riga on May 21, and their cars will be displayed for the general public on Elizabetes Street section between Brivibas Street and Barona Street, informs LETA.
Keyword tags: Forum, Latvia, LIVE RIGA, Transport
99 sailing ships and half-million tourists to visit Riga during "Tall Ships Races 2013"
01.05.201399 training ships and yachts from about twenty countries, with a total of approximately 3,500 crewmembers representing 35 countries, will visit Riga during the "Tall Ships Races" international regatta that, in terms of significance and due to its major scale, will be on par with the celebration of the 800th anniversary of Riga; the regatta is expected to bring around half-million tourists to Riga, as the organizers of the Riga leg of the regatta told a press conference on April 30, informs LETA.
LETA Video wins award at "Tourfilm Riga 2013"
29.04.2013At the VI International "Tourfilm Riga 2013" Festival, the team from LETA Video took the top prize in the category Latvia's Tourism Product for its entry titled "Riga 2014".
Vilnius and Riga included in a list of Europe’s most affordable cities
16.04.2013The travelling portal SmarterTravel.com included Lithuania and its capital Vilnius in a list of Europe's most affordable travelling destinations, along with its neighbor Riga and such famous travelling spots as Prague and Budapest, informs LETA/ELTA.
Number of foreign travellers and their expenditure in Latvia has slightly increased in 2012
04.04.2013The number of foreign travellers and their expenditure in Latvia has slightly increased in 2012, according to the results of survey carried out by Central Statistical Bureau. In 2012 foreign travellers crossed the border of Latvia 5.6 mln times, which is 0.6% more than in 2011.
Izklaides producentu grupa 7 to organize a musical programme at Latviabeerfest
This week the organizing committee of Latviabeerfest is officially hosting Izklaides producentu grupa 7, which will plan the entertainment and musical programme of the festival of this year managed by its Director Aigars Dinsbergs. This year it promises to be particularly splendid – the Brothers Auzani and the Famous Orchestra of Jersika, the bands PeR, Bermudu divsturis, as well as the famous band Perkons will perform in the evening concerts and they will give a concert in Vermanes Garden in the framework of their Latvian tour, informs festival’s press service.
Three Riga hotels join Wellton hotel chain
Three Riga hotels – ''Elefant Hotel'', ''Gertrude'' and ''Old Riga Palace'' have joined the Wellton hotel chain, informs LETA/Nozare.lv, referring to the on-line news portal Freecity.lv.
Protect Your Bubble lists Riga among top 10 cities to explore in 2013
British travel insurer "Protect Your Bubble" has listed Riga among top 10 tourist destinations to explore in 2013, calling the Latvian capital "the gem of the Baltics", informs LETA,
Alla Manilova: Riga is a bridge to Baltic States for Russia
Alla Manilova, the Russian Federation's deputy minister of culture, told a tourism forum in Riga yesterday that the city has great potential to become the tourism center of the Baltic States and the initial bridge for Russia to them, informs LETA.
Baltic States presented as tourist destination at "The New York Times Travel Show"
Latvian Tourism Development Agency together with its Lithuanian and Estonian counterparts presented the Baltic States as a tourist destination at the tenth international tourism exhibition "The New York Times Travel Show" in New York, the agency informed LETA/Nozare.lv.
Freeport of Riga – Baltic leader in 2012
Freeport of Riga began 2012 as the biggest port in the Baltics in terms of cargo turnover. As the year came to a close the port not only managed to maintain its leading position among the Baltic States but also saw its cargo volumes soar by 5.8%. Cargo turnover, if assessed by the total capacity of the state’s biggest ports, in Latvian ports last year exceeded cargo volumes handled in Lithuanian and Estonian ports taken together, informs BC port’s press service.
Riga Port serviced 5% more passengers in 2012
The Freeport of Riga serviced a total of 815,035 passengers in 2012, 5% more than in 2011, when the port served 776,211 passengers, according to the port's data, informs LETA/Nozare.lv.
German news agency recognizes Riga's right to world's first Christmas tree
German news agency DAPD provides an insight into the history of Christmas traditions, recognizing Riga as the birthplace of the world's first Christmas tree, writes LETA. The agency does not mention Riga's main rival for the honor – Tallinn.
Riga's main Christmas trees lit; Christmas markets open
Riga's main Christmas trees was lit on Sunday, and the city's annual Christmas markets also have begun working, LETA was informed by the Riga City Council.
Almost the same number of tourists stayed in Latvian hotels in Q3
Data of the Central Statistical Bureau show that the number of visitors in hotels and other accommodation establishments (1) in the 3rd quarter of 2012 comprised 591.6 thousand people. In comparison with the 3rd quarter of 2011, there was a small drop – of less than 1%. 67.6% of all visitors were foreign tourists and 32.4% – residents of Latvia.
EU’s assessment of Latvian economic activity 
