It is not at all easy for those working in the tourism sector to work during a pandemic. Although ways are being sought to attract potential customers by changing and improving the range of services or offering discounts, the second year that was spent during the pandemic has not brought any positive changes in Latgale.
Jelena Kijaško, Chairman of the Board of the Latgale Region Tourism Association “Ezerzeme”, describing the situation in the field of tourism over the last two years, emphasizes that there are entrepreneurs who have not only been able to adapt, but also to develop their service, but not everyone has gone so easily, because the flow of tourists is not increasing. Jelena Kijaško tells more about the statistics that reflect the ten months of this year. “As last year, the tourism industry was partially saved by local tourism, the data show that
98 percent were domestic tourists. “
However, the local flow of tourists is not comparable, when tourists from other countries also went to Latgale to rest before the war.
“Of course, the city’s hotels felt the hardest, because before the pandemic, about 50 percent of the city’s hotel visitors were foreign tourists. That number has now tripled. ”
This year, the active tourist season lasted six months. And, it must be said, at this time, compared to the first year of pandemic tourism, the figures are even worse. The number of tourists in 2021 has decreased by 170 thousand or 17 percent.
“Maybe in 2020 our own Latvians were actively traveling, it was the first year, it was a discovery for them – to discover regions, to discover something new, but we must remember that
the borders were closed last year, but this year there is caution, there are restrictions, but the borders are open,
and, of course, Latvians also travel outside Latvia. ”
Tourists are most interested in museums and expositions, natural objects, opportunities for active recreation. Rezekne region guest house “Stikāni” is located near Nagļi, next to Orenīši fish ponds. The recreation offer is designed for nature lovers and those who are obsessed with bird watching. The guest house has been in operation for four years, telling more about the guest housewife Dace Stikāne.
“We started working in 2018, we have two years without a cowhide and two years with a cowhide. And if initially we had a plan to focus more on foreign tourists who are interested in nature and birds, now there is a significant demand from locals. ”
The demand cannot be complained about, the last two seasons being similar, only during this time, in order to meet the epidemiological requirements, it is not possible to accommodate as many people at the same time as the premises would allow. There have been two foreign guests this season: one from Russia and the other from France.
“I will say that we feel stable,
there will be locals, or I hope the borders will open, then we will be able to fulfill our original goal and welcome foreign tourists, because the incorporation is that they know us, they are going to travel, I hope it will be good. ”
In general, foreign tourists in Latgale, who make up only 2 percent this year, were mostly from Lithuania, less from Estonia, and even less from Germany and Poland. The number of foreign tourists in the accommodation facilities does not reach even 9 thousand, which is small, emphasizes Jelena Kijaško, the chairman of the board of the Latgale Region Tourism Association “Ezerzeme”.
“This is catastrophically little, because in 2019 13 thousand foreign guests stayed in one city of Rēzekne.”
Thinking about the new tourist season, Latgale will be invited with an offer for active recreation in nature, namely, a section of the European Cycling Route Latgale has been created, which runs through the whole of Latgale, and this year and tourism service providers.
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