Zeszyt naukowy - całość - Wydział ZarzÄ dzania i Ekonomiki Usług

ZESZYTY NAUKOWE UNIWERSYTETU SZCZECIŃSKIEGO
NR 592 EKONOMICZNE PROBLEMY TURYSTYKI NR 14 2010
JĒKABS TRUŠIŅS, EDVĪNS BUKA
Riga Technical University
PRECONDITIONS AND PROBLEMS OF CREATING
THE RECREATION AND TOURISM SPATIAL SYSTEM IN LATVIA
Recreation, including active leisure, tourism and rehabilitation, as a process
for reconstruction of human physical and mental strength forms the basis for the
industry that masters and uses recreational resources, organises natural and artificial
environment as well as its spatial development by providing and enhancing the
social and economical effects of recreation. The role of tourism sector in Latvia's
national economy is significant: the export of tourism-related services in 2008
reached 403 million LVL, or 18,3% of Latvia's total service exports. The share of
tourism in national economy is still below the European average (i.e. 4%): direct
percentage of tourism sector in Latvian GDP in 2008 was 1,5% 1 . However, given
that tourism is closely linked to other sectors, its total (direct and indirect) contribution
to the national economy is much higher – 7,5% 2 . The importance and diversity
of tourism and recreation industry has been highlighted within the Latvian National
Development Plan for the years 2007–2013 3 as one of the priority tasks. The same
has been noticed within the National Strategic Framework Document for the years
2007–2013 as well as within EU funding programmes. Two key directions have
been selected – the development of competitive and quality tourism products and
services as well as making them recognizable 4 .
1
Tourism in Latvia in 2008, A Collection of Statistical Data – Riga, Central Statistical Bureau
of Latvia, Riga 2009.
2
World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) World Tourism Barometer, „Bulletin”, Vol. 7,
No. 1, January 2009, Madrid, Spain.
3
Latvian National Development Plan for the years 2007–2013, www.nap.lv, 15.01.2010.
4
National Strategic Framework Document for the years 2007–2013, izm.izm.gov.lv.