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Thursday, 28.03.2024, 09:38
Riga restaurants looking forward to more customers in 2014
The fact that Riga is the European Capital of Culture this year is the main reason why catering companies are looking forward to more customers, they explained.
"This will definitely heighten tourist' interest about Riga, especially in the summer when many cultural events will take place in the city, including the World Choir Games. This is good news for catering companies because there will be more food connoisseurs to prepare dishes for," said Kaspars Bahmanis, head of the Hotel and Restaurant Association's Restaurants' Department.
He believes that the total number of tourists to visit Riga could reach two million this year. As the number of tourists increases, so does demand for various services, including catering services.
Restaurant "Aqua Luna" representative Jelena Kasina said that 2015 also appeared to be a promising year as Latvia would be the Council of the European Union presiding country for a period of six months, which would also prompt more travelers in Riga.
According to the Central Statistical Bureau's data, Latvian catering industry's total turnover has been growing for several years in a row. In 2012, public catering industry's turnover increased 23% on 2011. The data for 2013 are not yet available.