Land Use Elo

							Rural Development in
       Latvia




                   Asnate Ziemele
 Latvian Country Tourism Association “Lauku ceļotājs”
                  Latvia in Europe
    Northeast of Europe
    Middle of the Baltic States
    Capital - Riga
    Population 2,4 mil.

Reasons for visiting:
Charming people
Traditions still alive
Lots of trees and waters
White Christmas
Beer, beer, beer...
                         Land Use
                           (2003)
  Territory: 6458.9 ha
                                        Forests
                                         44.5%




                                                   Other
                                                   4.5%

                                                   Yards
                                                   1.4%
Agricultural
                                                  Busches
   land
                            Marsches Waters Roads  1.8%
  38.3%
                              4.0%    3.5%   2.0%
                     Employment
                              (2003)
• Agriculture – 104.4 thousands (10.4%)
• Forestry – 30.6 thousands (3%)
• Rural tourism – 500 persons (kopā ar kalniņmājām varētu būt ap 1000?)
       Strategic Priorities of the
             Government
1. Improvement of structures of agricultural holdings
2. Improvement of product quality and increasing of sales
3. Diversification of rural economy
4. Improvement of animal welfare, hygiene and product quality and
   environment protection
5. Preservation of rural habitation
6. Preservation of biodiversity and rural landscape and reduction of
   pollution caused by agriculture

                    Rural development plan of Latvia
                           www.zm.gov.lv
Latvian Country Tourism Association
           Lauku ceļotājs
        Legal form: NGO (owns a Ltd. company for commercial activities)
        Founded: 1993
        Members: ~270 (rural tourism entrepreneurs)
        Bed places: ~ 3700
        Staff: ~ 14
            Main Activities


Providers                       Customers




                Public Sector
Providers
            • Database of RT accommodations
            • Quality scheme, inspections
            • Grading and labelling
            • Training and consulting
            • Regular newsletters
            • Provider assemblies
               Number of RT Accommodations
                      and Bedplaces
Providers
            4500                                                                  4137
            4000                                                           3790
                        Number of
            3500                                                    3154
                        accommodations
            3000        Number of bed places

            2500
                                                             1880
            2000

            1500
            1000                                       732
                                                494
                                    200 416
            500              167                             172 210 240 275
                   20     38       46    70    98     116
               0
                   1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
                      Target Markets
Customers              Number of bednights 2003
                       • Domestic 61%
                       • Foreign 39%

                                                    Other
            Germany                               countries
              38%                                   21%


      Netherland                                Finland
          s           France              Russia 4%
         15%                   Sweden USA  5%
                        6%
                                 6%    5%
                                 Products
                    Accommodations in the Baltics
Customers

        • Country homes
        • Self-catering vacation cottages
        • Guest houses
        • Campings
        • Castles
                                    Products
                   Interesting Farmsteads in Latvia
Customers
            • Traditional and exotic animals
            • Ecological fruit and vegetables
            • Craftsmen
            • Fishermen
                             Products
                Organized Tours through the Baltics
Customers


                        • Bicycling
                        • Boating
            Estonia
                        • Fishing
                        • Horse riding
                        • Agri-tours
            Latvia

    Lithuania
                            Publications
                    Catalogues, Guides, Maps
Customers
            • Accommodations and attractions in the Baltic States
            • Languages:
            • Distribution: office, TICs, embassies, travel fairs
                    Internet
                        • Accommodations, attractions, tour programs
Customers               • On-line reservation system
                        • ~ 700 visits per day
     www.traveller.lv   • Roundmails to customers and travel agents
               Networking and Cooperation
Public Sector • Lobbying in national level
              • Development of a common Baltic RT marketing strategy
              • Cooperation with European RT community
              • EU and national projects
                            Eco-labelling
                 EC LIFE programme (2001-2004)
Public Sector
                Green Certificate - the national eco-label for country homes,
                vacation cottages, guest houses and campings

                                       Development since 1999
                                     Implemented within a EC LIFE programme co-
                                    financed project
                                       Currently assigned to 57 establishments
                                       Period of validity 1,5 years
                                     Joining the common initiative of European eco-
                                    labels VISIT
                                       Professional web site www.eco.traveller.lv
                Information Technologies
                EU PHARE programme (2003 – 2004)
Public Sector

   Common information and reservations system for the Baltic countries

                                            • RTME specific,
                                            multilanguage design

                                            • Open source

                                            • Low deployment and
                                            development cost


                                            www.osis.traveller.lv
                                    Quality
                EC Leonardo da Vinci programme
Public Sector
                                     (2002-2004)

        Common understanding of rural tourism quality in Europe


                        • Based on common criteria in European rural tourism
                        quality schemes
                        • Generic web based tool:
                                cross-system transparency
                                unified control and evaluation methodology


                         http://www.celotajs.lv/Leonardo_en.htm
We are open for cooperation!




         Contact us! www.traveller.lv
     Latvian Country Tourism Association “Lauku ceļotājs”
     Kugu str. 11, Riga, Latvia
     Tel.: +371 7617600, Fax: +371 7830041, e-mail: lauku@celotajs.lv