Latvia, Legislation, Security, Tourism

Ainars Slesers.

Travellers to Riga would be informed, already at the airport or even while traveling to Riga, of where they could turn for help or seek information in English, Russian, German, French and other languages.

"It is very simple. If a taxi driver demands LVL 30 for a ride from the airport to downtown Riga, the tourist will call the Tourist Police right away, and the taxi driver will have his license suspended for a long time. Or if a lady at a night club asks a tourist to buy her a drink for LVL 700, the tourist will know already where he can seek help, and the club owner will be stripped of the license," explained Slesers.

"If we wish to become the region's tourism hub, we must guarantee safety and comfort to all the people who travel to Riga," said Slesers, stressing that the Riga City Council should assume most of the responsibility for the new initiative.