Latvija in brief - 2013-04-04

Latvia has been recognized as one of ten most ethical tourist destinations in the world, where environment is protected, human rights are respected and values of eco-tourism are generally respected as well, reports LETA. The Ethical Traveler tourism agency recognized Barbados, Costa Rica, Ghana, Latvia, Lithuania, Mauritius, Palau, Poland, Samoa and Uruguay as the 10 most ethical tourism destinations in the world. Latvia and Lithuania have received the highest praise in terms of environmental protection. On top of that, “Latvia is popular for its most rapid progress.” Ethical Traveler fined Latvia only one point – for not respecting the rights of non-citizens. It is stated in the reports that human rights are generally respected, as well as principles of democracy, and press freedom.

The largest Baltic wind farms have established the Association of Wind Energy Producers, the association’s representatives informed business portal Nozare.lv. The goal of the association is to ensure sustainable, efficient and transparent wind energy production based on market principles, to offer professional support to state and municipal authorities regarding official policies on renewable energy, and inform society about the potential of and opportunities for renewable energy development in Latvia. The association will also aim to attract investments to the renewable energy production industry in Latvia and protect investments in the sector. The association’s head Kristaps Stepanovs says that the main reason for the establishment of the association is the need for competent long-term policy on renewable energy production in Latvia and the development of wind energy production in the short and long term. It is important that attaining these goals is in the interest of the national economy and society. Given that a new support strategy is being developed on renewable energy production in Latvia, it is important that producers are involved in this process and their practical experience is taken into account, said Stepanovs.

The national airline airBaltic carried 158,558 passengers this past February, approximately 12 percent less than in February 2012, when the airline served 180,476 passengers, the airline informed Nozare.lv. AirBaltic operated 2,944 flights in February 2013, 12 percent less than in February 2012, when the airline operated 3,338 flights.  The airline’s load factor, which represents the number of passengers as a proportion of the number of available seats, was at 62 percent in February 2013. The 15-minute flight punctuality indicator for airBaltic was at 84.6 percent in February 2013. This means that 84 of every 100 airBaltic flights departed at the planned time or with a delay of no more than 15 minutes in February 2013.