Meetings&Events Day introduces the discussion on the development of globally competitive services
To discuss the development of globally competitive Meetings’ industry services in Latvia Latvia Convention bureau (LCB) in cooperation with Latvia Investment and Development Agency (LIDA) and Riga Tourism and Development Bureau (RTDB) organized the first Meetings&Events Day and Latvia Conference Ambassadors Forum on October 15. The event which took place at the newly opened ATTA Center was attended by leading experts from the Ministry of Economics, Riga City Council, as well as Meetings&Events industry.
“In recent years, the field of Meetings&Events tourism in Riga has developed rapidly, ensuring a significant contribution to the municipal budget and Latvia economy as a whole. 90% of all events are organized in Riga, employing about 10 thousand people. The COVID-19 pandemic and the new reality is our opportunity to take this type of tourism to a new level, ”emphasizes Jānis Jenzis, Chairman of the Board of RTDB.
Until the COVID-19 pandemic, tourism was the leading export sector of Latvia's services, amounting to 1 billion euros in 2019, accounting for 4.5% of the country's GDP. The average daily expenditure of one business tourist in our region was significantly higher than one leisure tourist - 700 EUR, therefore the panel discussions of the event discussed state and municipal support mechanisms, as well as Riga’s and Latvia's advantages and opportunities in the development of Meetings&Events industry in the new reality.
Over the past months LIDA has been actively cooperating with the Meetings&Events industry and special support instruments have been created to ensure a faster recovery of the industry.
"Meetings&Events industry is an important niche with very high added value. Latvia has the people, knowledge and infrastructure to provide high quality of services, so it is very important not to lose existing positions and be ready to receive guests again. Now is the time to work on new products and services. One such direction is hybrid events. I would like to encourage companies in the industry to use the available support and look for new ideas so that Meetings&Events industry can offer high-quality and globally competitive solutions,” notes LIDA Director Kaspars Rožkalns.
Latvia Conference Ambassadors program (LCA) was launched at the event within the framework of which industry experts and representatives of the academic environment was invited to become Latvia Conference Ambassadors and attract international conferences and events to Latvia.
“Latvia Conference Ambassadors program is a Meetings&Events industry marketing tool based on international experience and practice for the effective attraction of international conferences and congresses to Latvia. LCA are motivated and influential representatives of their industries which by promoting the destination and attracting international events to Latvia ensure sustainable development of Meetings&Events industry as well as the industry they represent in Latvia. We are pleased today to honor Latvia Conference Ambassadors from various sectors of the economy, as a result of whose persistent activities significant events have already taken place in Latvia, ”adds Jānis Astahovs, Chairman of the Board of Latvia Convention bureau.