RIGA - In an effort to stem fraudulent nightclub behavior, President Valdis Zatlers, various ministers and police chiefs have pledged to develop a plan within two weeks that will lead to the closure of nightclubs with a high rate of complaints.
The government also plans to introduce stricter regulations and new legislation for clubs and bars.
According to Interior Minister Linda Murniece, there are eight clubs in downtown Riga that could be shut down. The minister added that closing down these clubs will also serve as a warning to other entertainment venues looking to swindle tourists.
Sandra Kukule, adviser to the president in legal matters, said the current situation regarding the clubs that cheat tourists is puzzling.
"Everyone is aware of the clubs in question, yet not enough is being done to solve the problem," said Kukule.
The vigorous action comes in response to an increase in fraud and, in some cases, violent crime involving tourists and nightclubs. Zatlers organized the meeting with officials to help solve the problem and stated his concern about Latvia's image abroad.
"We think that the better idea is to control them. We're talking about five to eight of these bars night clubs. Not big places. I'm not sure the best idea is just to close," Marita Neimane of the Latvian Tourism Development Agency told TBT.
The fear that closing the clubs and bars may push the fraudulent activity underground is not a concern, but the idea that the club could easily reopen with another name remains in the forefront.
"If the police close the night clubs or bars, they might just open again with another name. So the government has to make changes in the laws for solutions," said Neimane.
Currently, British and American tourists rank as the top nationalities targeted for scams in Riga, a trend that the embassies are hoping to reverse.
"The Riga authority and police have always been cooperative and recently even more cooperative by announcing their intention in the fall they could implement a system [like that] of traffic lights," Lelde Pfafrode of the British embassy told TBT.
The traffic light system was inspired by a visit from Welsh police earlier in the year. The Riga Police have announced their intention to introduce a grading system for entertainment establishments according to the levels of crimes connected to the venue. The system, which police say should be introduced in the second half of 2009, would include three colors: green (no risk) yellow (some risk) and red (should be closed).
Several foreign embassies have released warnings to tourists regarding scams. The Embassy of the United Kingdom has also distributed pamphlets with information to keep tourists safe. The Embassy of the United States has also released a list of clubs and bars that have been places of crime or fraud.
The officials also confirmed readiness to take action to investigate tourist scam cases and to organize surveillance of the suspected clubs.
Bars that have been highlighted by the U.S. Embassy as places of crime or fraud:
"Foxy Lounge" "Babylon Klub" (formerly "Roxy Klub") "Lord's Pub" (formerly "Groks Pub") "Puzzle" (formerly "Pink Panther") "Mary" "DD Bars" "Saxon" "Pussy Lounge" (formerly "Doll House" and "Zig Zag") "Infinity Bars" ( formerly "Bar Fly") "Zephry Bar" "Sakura" (formerly "Nobu Sushi")
