http://www.economist.com/blogs/gulliver/2010/07/baltic_tourism

TOURISM to the Baltic states has been hit badly by the recession. Over the course of 2009, hotel occupancy fell by an average of 13.4% across the three countries, and Latvia welcomed 22% fewer visitors than in 2008. Things have started to pick up again recently, but the fundamental problem remains a lack of recognition [bold mine].

In the 1990s, the BBC was still finding interviewees who thought Estonia was a kind of fish. To try and combat such ignorance, the Baltics undertook various branding exercises. Simon Anholt, the creator of “nation brands” (the idea that people hold preconceptions about countries that can be changed), advised Latvia on ways to improve its image. And Lithuania hired Saffron, a team of brand consultants, who came up with the sage observation that “no other country… is as Lithuanian as Lithuania” (see PDF) and suggested the creation of a typeface, colour scheme and jingle, “most likely based on jazz”. Estonia brazenly ignored the consultants and decided to manage its own branding (see PDF), but with limited success. 22% of British people surveyed did not know anything at all about Estonia, though only 11% of Germans were as ignorant [Peteris: take note, probably the same recognition for Latvia, part of “the big world” just like Estonia].

/... ./

russian tourists don’t have a recognition problem, they just
can’t leave….......................

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Adrese: http://www.delfi.lv/archive/print.php?id=33222699
Artūrs Kaņepājs: No torņiem pļavās jeb Latvijas tūrisms
Artūrs Kaņepājs, Latvijas Bankas ekonomikas eksperts
27. jūlijs 2010 05:00
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Par galveno Latvijas tautsaimniecības turpmākās attīstības virzītāju kļuvis eksports, kas pašlaik strauji aug, un, paredzams, “vilks” līdzi arī iekšējo patēriņu. Taču eksports nebūt nav tikai mašīnu, iekārtu vai pārtikas preču pārdošana ārvalstīs. Eksports ir arī ārzemnieku tūrisms Latvijā, un par šo nozari ļoti piemēroti šķiet runāt tieši vasarā. Tālab šajā slejā ar skaitļiem ieskicēšu tūrisma vietu Latvijas ekonomikā un dalīšos savās pārdomās par tā attīstības iespējām.

Pēc strauja tūrisma pakalpojumu eksporta pieauguma no 2005. līdz 2008. gadam (vidēji par 28%), pagājušogad tūrisma nozare saņēma smagu triecienu. Kritās Latvijas iedzīvotāju tūrisma pakalpojumu patēriņš, arī ārzemnieki Latvijas naktsmītnēs pavadīja par gandrīz piektdaļu mazāk nakšu, un gada beigās nodarbinātība tūrisma sektorā bija kritusies par 8% attiecībā pret iepriekšējā gada atbilstošo periodu. Iemesls kritumam bez šaubām nebija tikai nozares pārstāvju tik ļoti uzsvērtā pievienotās vērtības nodokļa likmes paaugstināšana, bet arī straujais pirktspējas kritums kaimiņvalstīs, ceļotāju tendence ietaupīt uz ceļojumu garuma rēķina (mazāk – uz ceļojumu skaita rēķina) krīzes laikā, kā arī Latvijas tūrisma nozares pakalpojumu kvalitātes nozīmīgais kritums, par ko liecina Centrālās Statistikas pārvaldes tūristu aptauju dati. Pēdējais varētu atstāt paliekošu ietekmi uz ārvalstu tūristu interesi par Latviju, un tas, visticamāk, nav saistīts tikai ar tūristu izlepšanu, paplašinoties citu valstu piedāvājumiem. Dažādu tūrisma pakalpojumu cenas Latvijā pēdējos gados augušas straujāk nekā citviet, un informācija plašsaziņas līdzekļos liecina, ka tūristi Rīgā jūtas mazāk droši un nereti, tiekot apkrāptiem, par pakalpojumiem samaksā daudz vairāk nekā gaidīts.

Diemžēl papildus iepriekš minētajam pastāv arī dziļākas ar Latvijas tūrismu saistītas problēmas, un tie, kas runā par Latvijas skaisto dabu un unikālo latviešu kultūru kā ārvalstu tūristus piesaistošajiem elementiem, droši vien nav īpaši objektīvi pret realitāti: saskaņā ar Tūrisma attīstības valsts aģentūras (TAVA) pasūtītajiem valstu zīmolvedības eksperta Saimona Anholta (Simon Anholt) pētījumiem, vidusmēra viedoklis par Latviju pasaulē ir: “Valstī, kuru es nevēlos apmeklēt, dzīvo cilvēki, kurus negribu pazīt, un ražo lietas, ko negribu pirkt.” Anholts secina, ka ārzemnieku acīs Latvijai nav dabas resursu, un kultūras mantojums ir ļoti nepopulārs; problēmas rada arī neskaidra identitāte un sarežģīti nacionālie jautājumi. Mazāk pārsteidz tas, ka Latvija arī tiek uzskatīta par tehnoloģiski atpalikušu valsti. Kopš 2002. gada TAVA popularizē Latviju kā “Zemi, kas dzied”, ir arī izveidotas divas starptautiski augtu vērtētas video vizītkartes, taču šobrīd atzīst, ka “sauklī “Zeme, kas dzied” ietvertā jēga ir saprotama un tuva vietējam iedzīvotājam, taču ārvalstu tūristam grūti uztverama un neko neizsakoša.

Raugoties starptautiskajā pieredzē un apskatot tūrisma nozares īpatsvaru citviet Eiropā, varam secināt, ka Latvijas tūrisma izaugsmei vēl ir potenciāls, tomēr tā nevarēs ilgstoši apsteigt kopējo tautsaimniecības izaugsmi. Pārdotās preces un sniegtie pakalpojumi (kas neietver pasažieru starptautiskos pārvadājumus) ārvalstu tūristiem Latvijā 2009. gadā veidoja 363 milj. latu jeb aptuveni 3% no IKP. Tas ir līdzīgs īpatsvars kā vidēji “vecajās” ES dalībvalstīs, t.sk. Zviedrijā, kā arī Lietuvā, taču mazāks, nekā “jaunajās” ES dalībvalstīs (vidēji 5%), tai skaitā Igaunijā (6%) un it īpaši “rekordistēs” Kiprā (9%) un Maltā (10%). Jāatzīmē arī, ka Latvijai būtiskais un ar tūrismu saistītais pasažieru pārvadājumu eksports pagājušogad veidoja aptuveni 1% no IKP (no tā apm. 90% bija aviopārvadājumi). Visticamāk, ka salīdzinoši lielas rezerves ir arī “eksotiskāku” tūristu piesaistē, jo līdz šim (2008. gada dati) visvairāk ieceļotāju bija no Lietuvas (33%) un Igaunijas (16%), 27% - no pārējām ES valstīm, bet 17% - no NVS, galvenokārt Krievijas.

I don’t know what you’re complaining about, but here in Riga, I see all kinds of tourists - from Germany and the UK, from Sweden and Russia. It appears that the days of the British stag parties are behind us. The city has established several police posts with the police officers actually speak some English. Considering how it used to be during the so-called boom years, this is much much better. We just can’t wait until Usakov installs potter-potties in the Old Town.

PS Meanwhile, you’d be praising the fact that people have to stand in line to get a visa to come to Latvia…After all, those are just Russians…Oh, wait, sorry, non-EU people.

PPS I don’t even remember the last time someone was fined for urinating at the Freedom Monument any more…

I am more puzzled and concerned about this than tourism.

Here’s the explanation:

Rīga, 28.jūl., NOZARE.LV. “Rietumu banka” izmanto vasaru un Jūrmalā notiekošo mūzikas festivālu “Jaunais vilnis”, lai ar vides reklāmu palīdzību mudinātu potenciālos ārvalstu investorus ieguldīt Latvijā un iegūt Eiropas Savienības (ES) uzturēšanās atļauju, biznesa portālu “Nozare.lv” informēja “Rietumu bankas” viceprezidents sabiedrisko attiecību, reklāmas un mārketinga jautājumos Vadims Aleksejevs.
Kā norāda Aleksejevs, šajās dienās Rīgā un Jūrmalā viesosies jaunā Imigrācijas likuma mērķauditorija, tāpēc banka nolēmusi nepalaist garām izdevību un informēt Latvijas viesus par iespējām iegūt uzturēšanās atļauju ES.
Aleksejevs stāsta, ka banka atbalsta grozījumus Imigrācijas likumā, jo tādējādi iespējams piesaistīt jaunas investīcijas, radīt darba vietas un veicināt ekonomikas izaugsmi. “Kad izmaiņas stājās spēkā, mēs informējām, ka sniegsim saviem klientiem atbalstu attiecībā uz visiem uzturēšanās atļaujas iegūšanas variantiem, kas ir paredzēti likumā. Šobrīd ir atlicis juridiskā dokumenta saturu padarīt par realitāti un īstenot to dzīvē,” norāda Aleksejevs.
Viņš arī stāsta, ka bankai radušās problēmas, mēģinot saskaņot atļauju kampaņā ietverto informāciju publicēt krievu valodā.
“Vairāk nekā nedēļu centāmies pierādīt, ka tie, kam adresēts reklāmas vēstījums, nelasa latviešu valodā un ne vienmēr pārvalda angļu valodu. Kāda jēga plakātā, kas reklamē uzturēšanās atļauju Latvijā, rakstīti “Laipni lūdzam”, ja Latvijas pilsoņiem un patstāvīgajiem iedzīvotājiem iespēja uzturēties valstī tiek piešķirta automātiski. Acīmredzot tuvākajā laikā likumdevējam nepieciešams padomāt arī par šo problēmu,” uzsver Aleksejevs.

This time really I cannot understand. Simply because it would be unconceivable.

An European country cannot be like a stinky Communist train, having first-class passengers, second-class passengers, and… the others, the commuters bribering the ticket inspector in order to be ilegally accepted into that train.

There cannot be different levels of citizenship. Even some completely illiterate Gypsy from Romania still is a Romanian citizen, as am I, and with the same rights. And I am really proud about this equality.
Also, the Russians from the Danube Delta are citizens of Romania, and they too are a part of our national soul. Like many other nationalities.

Yes, we are deeply hating the Bolshevism and its exponents, but we are not hating at all the Russian people. Au contraire, the Russian culture is highly appreciated in my country. “Ethnicity” and “ideology” are completely different things.

In my opinion, hierarchizing the citizenship and/or abusively refusing the legitimate right of someone to obtain that citizenship constitute a heavy and serious offense simultaneously directed against the dignity and against the noble essence of the human being. Why are you afraid? Since fear of other nationalities is a sign of inner weakness and of immaturity. And who are your rulers then? Savonarola & Torquemada ?

Of course I am not here to give you lessons, and I’m not even daring to judge you.
But I am a long-term admirer of the Baltic countries, and it was a great sorrow to learn that you are acting now like the South-African Republic into the eighties.

P.S. What a dangerously charming lady, Aleksejs. Dangerously because I was trying to eat some fish when I saw her smile.

The Romanians (dated: Rumanians or Roumanians; Romanian: români or -historically, but now a seldom-used regionalism- rumâni; dated exonym: Vlachs) are a nation and ethnic group[27] native to Romania, who speak Romanian; they are the majority inhabitants of Romania.

The Romanian people are a nation in the meaning of ethnos (Romanian: neam), defined more by the sense of sharing a common Romanian culture, descent, and having Romanian as mother tongue than by citizenship or by being subjects to any particular country. The Romanian citizenship law[28] legislated in March 1991 establishes the rights of second and third generation descendants of Romanian citizens to obtain a Romanian citizenship, if they speak fluent Romanian and are able to demonstrate sufficient knowledge in Romanian history and culture. 89.4 percent of Romania’s people declared themselves as Romanians at the 2002 Romanian Census. In the world today, 24 million people have Romanian as their mother tongue.[29]

In one interpretation of the census results in Moldova, Moldovans are counted as Romanians, which would mean that the latter form the majority in that country as well.[30][31] Romanians are also an ethnic minority in several nearby countries.

Having recently been in Riga for the Jaunatnes Dziesmu Svētki through the 22nd of July, I agree with Aleksejs. Plenty of tourists, both in Vecrīga and other parts of Centrs, with only one group of young male Brits noticed, but they were in normal garb so I was not sure if it was a stag tour or not.
On the other hand, one day there was one group of young men who to me seemed to be a stag party, at least they were kitted out for it and hazing one of their own in particular. Surprisingly they were conversing in Latvian and Russian so I assume they were locals!
LTV 1 also noted that tourism is up 20% over last year, and they actually credited the “Live Rīga” campaign for at least part of this upswing.
Regardless, agreed that we do not need “hoggish ” people, but limiting our audience to “refined” tourists seems elitist at best. We need people that appreciate LV, have a wonderful experience rich in the elements that make LV the place that it is and share this experience with their friends, colleagues and neighbors.

Ady, what are you talking about? The ad is for Russia’s Russians, not the ethnic Russian minority that lives in Latvia.

Aleksejs - 27 July 2010 10:46 AM

I don’t know what you’re complaining about, but here in Riga, I see all kinds of tourists - from Germany and the UK, from Sweden and Russia. It appears that the days of the British stag parties are behind us. The city has established several police posts with the police officers actually speak some English. Considering how it used to be during the so-called boom years, this is much much better. We just can’t wait until Usakov installs potter-potties in the Old Town.

PS Meanwhile, you’d be praising the fact that people have to stand in line to get a visa to come to Latvia…After all, those are just Russians…Oh, wait, sorry, non-EU people.

PPS I don’t even remember the last time someone was fined for urinating at the Freedom Monument any more…

Let me refresh your memory, Aleksej… ten days ago.  Apparently the polite police don’t actually police the piemineklis, private citizens have to take matters into their own hands.

Good to hear that the local leo’s can conjure up some english.  If only they can be bothered to learn latvian.

/V a.k.a. Der Übersturmführer von the days of the British stag parties

p.s.  “potter-potties?”

...private citizens have to take matters into their own hands.

I’m not sure what private citizens you mean. I saw election campaign written all over that. It’s the same Agris Sūna, no?

Aleksejs - 28 July 2010 01:20 PM

...private citizens have to take matters into their own hands.

I’m not sure what private citizens you mean. I saw election campaign written all over that. It’s the same Agris Sūna, no?

I realize, Aleksej, that your Latvian language skills are very weak.  Permit me to assist you.  The lede (that’s the very first sentence of a newspaper article, btw) reads as follows: “Sestdien apvienības «Ražots Latvijā» izveidotā pilsoņu patruļa «Brīvības pieminekļa patruļa» - 2 suņi un 8 cilvēki - aizturēja kārtējo čurātāju netālu no Brīvības pieminekļa, portālam «Apollo» pavēstīja apvienībā.”  A quick translation: On Saturday, a citizen’s patrol “pilsoņu patruļa” called “Freedom Monument patrol,” organized by the group “Made in Latvia” consisting of 2 dogs and 8 people, detained yet another urinator near the Freedom Monument.

If you had properly followed the link in the article directing you to the photo of the citizen’s patrol, here is what you would have actually seen.  Folks with no uniforms patrolling.  A special under-cover police unit?—Don’t think so.  More like private citizens, possibly vigilantes.

I wish you well in your endeavours to try and learn the national language of Latvia.  So few of your people do.  If you have any more difficulty understanding the native language of my Fatherland, please don’t be embarrassed to seek additional help.

/V a.k.a. Der Übersturmführer von election campaign written all over that.

Varonis - I would certainly seek some help if I were you. Your bigotry is obvious and offensive. Perhaps you yourself cannot manage the Latvian language as well as you believe - Alexsejs does just fine - so maybe you truly should do yourself a service and get checked out.

Sniks, Bobciks’ Russian language skills are also pretty bad - both in use and comprehension.

Wahabist - scourge of unoriginal and disingenuous blowhards from subterranean New Jersey.

Dear Roberts,

Let’s consider the context as a whole, not just the lead. Just because something called ‘a citizens’ patrol’ doesn’t make it such. Any more than just because someone says he is for “a good Latvia” it really makes his support ‘a good Latvia.’

Who led the six-man ‘citizen patrol’?

Patruļa sāka darbu plkst.23 un jau plkst.1.25 patruļas vadītājs Agris Sūna aizturēja Aleksandru.

Now, back to my link:

Latvijas Apvienotās policistu arodbiedrības (LAPA) vadītājs Agris Sūna vēlētos, lai viņa veidotā partija «Solidaritāte» kļūtu par masveida kustību ar 10 līdz 20 tūkstošiem biedru.

You don’t think the two are related, do you?