The Latvian Restaurant Association has warned that the country’s hospitality sector is facing a severe summer downturn, with restaurants, cafés and hotels reporting a sharp decline in foreign visitors during what is normally the busiest period of the year, reported on July 13.
The association said the summer season, which traditionally generates enough revenue to sustain many tourism and hospitality businesses through the quieter autumn and winter months, has failed to meet expectations. Jānis Enziš, President of the Latvian Restaurant Association, described the situation as “catastrophic”, citing association survey data showing that restaurants have received significantly fewer visitors than during the same period last year.
The Latvian Restaurant Association has warned that the country’s hospitality sector is facing a severe summer downturn, with restaurants, cafés and hotels reporting a sharp decline in foreign visitors during what is normally the busiest period of the year, Inbox.lv reported on July 13.
The association said the summer season, which traditionally generates enough revenue to sustain many tourism and hospitality businesses through the quieter autumn and winter months, has failed to meet expectations. Jānis Enziš, President of the Latvian Restaurant Association, described the situation as “catastrophic”, citing association survey data showing that restaurants have received significantly fewer visitors than during the same period last year. Inbox.lv reported that 98.5% of surveyed establishments recorded a decline in international guests.
Enziš said international media coverage of Ukrainian drones that lost their course and crashed in Latvia had affected travellers’ perceptions of safety, discouraging some visitors from travelling to the country. According to the association, the decline has added to an already difficult period for businesses still recovering from earlier challenges facing the tourism sector.
The association has called on the Latvian government to step up tourism marketing efforts and introduce measures to support hospitality businesses. It argues that the loss of foreign visitors is affecting not only restaurants but also accommodation providers and tourism operators that rely on the summer season for a substantial share of annual income.
The warning follows similar concerns raised earlier this year by tourism businesses in Latvia’s eastern Latgale region, where operators reported widespread booking cancellations linked to security concerns and requested emergency government assistance. Industry representatives said hotels, restaurants and visitor attractions had experienced a sharp fall in demand compared with the previous year.
“We are in the middle of summer, yet the picture is completely different. The situation is catastrophic and the summer that held great hopes has not met expectations,” Enziš said, according to Inbox.lv.
reported that 98.5% of surveyed establishments recorded a decline in international guests.
Enziš said international media coverage of Ukrainian drones that lost their course and crashed in Latvia had affected travellers’ perceptions of safety, discouraging some visitors from travelling to the country. According to the association, the decline has added to an already difficult period for businesses still recovering from earlier challenges facing the tourism sector.
The association has called on the Latvian government to step up tourism marketing efforts and introduce measures to support hospitality businesses. It argues that the loss of foreign visitors is affecting not only restaurants but also accommodation providers and tourism operators that rely on the summer season for a substantial share of annual income.
The warning follows similar concerns raised earlier this year by tourism businesses in Latvia’s eastern Latgale region, where operators reported widespread booking cancellations linked to security concerns and requested emergency government assistance. Industry representatives said hotels, restaurants and visitor attractions had experienced a sharp fall in demand compared with the previous year.
“We are in the middle of summer, yet the picture is completely different. The situation is catastrophic and the summer that held great hopes has not met expectations,” Enziš said.