On October 21, a meeting was held at the Ministry of Economics (MoE) with a delegation from the German Bundestag Tourism Committee, during which topics such as Latvia’s tourism strategy, tourism flow management, bilateral cooperation, and digitalization in the tourism sector were discussed.
During the talks, activities in the tourism sector that successfully attract travelers and increase the profitability and export potential of tourism products were reviewed.
“Cooperation between Latvia and Germany in the tourism sector is strategically important. In recent years, thanks to targeted investments and strengthened international collaboration, we have observed a steady increase in the number of German tourists. This demonstrates interest in Latvia as a safe, modern, and culturally rich destination. In 2027, Liepāja will become a European Capital of Culture, which is expected to further boost tourist arrivals to Latvia. Today’s meeting with the Bundestag Tourism Committee marks another step toward closer cooperation,” emphasized Minister of Economics Viktors Valainis.
The tourism industry faced significant challenges due to travel and gathering restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the war in Ukraine, initiated by Russia, initially affected tourism figures, but tourist numbers are now increasing. For this reason, Latvia is actively working to position itself as a safe tourism destination.
The Bundestag Tourism Committee expressed a desire to strengthen cooperation with the Ministry of Economics to jointly develop initiatives promoting bilateral tourism development.
The discussion also covered digitalization in the tourism sector, which improves efficiency and competitiveness but also introduces cyberattack risks. Digitalization is especially important not only for overall economic growth and productivity but also for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in tourism. Support instruments developed by the Ministry of Economics to promote digitalization are also available to tourism sector companies to help develop the industry and adapt to changing market conditions.
Germany is one of Latvia’s priority tourism partners, with cooperation particularly important in medical and business tourism. Thanks to targeted investments in infrastructure, innovation, and international collaboration, the number of German tourists has increased in recent years, demonstrating strong interest in Latvia as a safe and culturally rich travel destination. In the first half of 2025, nearly 68,000 tourists from Germany visited Latvia.