Latvia's LIAA rolls out tourism and film support plans

Latvia's Investment and Development Agency (LIAA) and tourism industry representatives have assessed the current state of tourism, noting a 5.2% decline in foreign visitors during the first five months of the year, while domestic travel rose by 2.2%. Foreign visitor spending increased by €11.3 million, with more tourists arriving from Lithuania, the United Kingdom, Germany and Finland. The agency highlighted ongoing challenges such as limited air connectivity and rising travel costs, but pointed to a summer season that is meeting forecasts. LIAA has intensified advertising abroad, promoted regional attractions such as Latgale, and highlighted nominations for two international tourism awards in the UK and Finland.

In parallel, LIAA has opened its foreign film support programme for project submissions until 21 August 2026. The programme, which has already co‑financed 37 film projects with more than €9.97 million, aims to attract international productions to Latvia, creating jobs and boosting service exports. Notable successes include the Danish director Majas el‑Tukī’s film “Woman Unknown” entering the main competition of the Venice International Film Festival, as well as Latvian co‑productions shown at Cannes and other A‑class festivals. The foreign‑film activity has generated over €42 million in local spending and contributed €8.84 million in tax revenue, reinforcing Latvia’s reputation as a reliable partner in the global film industry.