Transport

The port is estimated to suffer a loss of around 0.8 million euros, and the whole city would lose around 2 mln euros in revenue.

Kristina Gontier, international relations and protocol manager at the port authority, says the pandemic has affected the cruise tourism, therefore, an breakthrough should not be expected this year.

"It should have been the biggest season in terms of passengers and arrivals, and also the longest, a record season, but things are the way they are, and it will definitely not be that way, and it remains to be seen how many ships will arrive, two, three, four, or no at all. The situation is very dynamic," she told.

The port's representatives hope for a more successful next cruise season, if a second coronavirus wave does not come, as the port has already reserved 52 ships for it.

Romena Savickiene, head of the Tourism and Culture Information Center in Klaipeda, says the failed cruise season will bring losses not only to Klaipeda but also the whole of Lithuania, but more of local tourists are expected to spend their holidays in the country.

Savickiene also said the number of Latvian tourists has grown since the Baltic states opened their borders after the pandemic.