Latvia, Port, Transport

The port points out that cruise lines around the world are actively accepting reservations and preparing for the 2021/2022 tourist season, developing special security protocols and planning cruise routes for the next five years.

Freeport of Riga CEO Ansis Zeltins has met with representatives from the Riga Tourism Development Bureau, Tourism Department at the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia, Association of Hotels and Restaurants of Latvia, Riga International Airport, Riga Passenger Terminal, Riga Cruise Ship Agency and Latvia Tours travel agency to discuss external marketing activities and bringing more cruise liners to Riga.

“In order to attract more cruise ships and tourists to Riga, it is not enough to have appropriate berths and terminals for boarding passengers. We also need a unique, competitive tourism offer and an efficient and convenient city infrastructure ", said the CEO of the Freeport of Riga Ansis Zeltins, pointing out that this task requires the active involvement and participation of all industry representatives and the city. "Now, at a time when the cruise industry has stopped its operation all over the world, it is the right time for everyone to identify and do their homework, which in the long run would provide an opportunity to strengthen Riga's position in the Baltic Sea cruise market," said A. Zeltins.

Mr. Bo Larsen, Vice President of the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), also took part in the discussion remotely, presenting the current situation and future prospects in the cruise industry. The Freeport of Riga Authority has been a member of CLIA for several years; this membership allows to establish and maintain contacts with cruise companies and to more actively promote Riga as a cruise tourism destination.

"Despite the fact that the cruise segment is currently one of the sectors hardest hit by the COVID-19 crisis, according to the results of the CLIA research cruise tourists tend to be loyal to this type of travel, so the demand for cruise trips remains consistently high. According to CLIA forecasts, activity in the sector will resume, especially in the Baltic Sea region, which has been relatively less affected by the crisis", emphasized Bo Larsen. According to him, next season there could be a gradual renewal of cruise routes, the industry's adaptation to the new rules, and in 2022 - a return to the pre-crisis level, expecting a rapid increase in the number of cruise tourists.

The Port of Riga has set an ambitious objective - to make Riga a “home port/turnaround port” of the Baltic cruise companies - a port where cruise passengers start and end their journey. This would not only improve the port's performance, but would also make a greater contribution to the development of Riga's tourism and hospitality industry.