Sex ads to be separated

  • 2005-08-24
  • From wire reports
RIGA - Officials from the State Tourism Development Agency and publishers of tourist information booklets have agreed that in the future booklets would include separate, detachable sections for sex service advertisements exclusively.


Kristine Tjarve, spokeswoman for the agency, said that, according to the agreement, all ads offering sexual service would be printed in a separate appendix so that those who are not interest can throw the appendix out.

The agreement is the first in what is likely to be a series of measures to prevent Latvia's image from degrading into a haven of sex tourism. In recent weeks top officials, including President Vaira Vike-Freiberga herself, have expressed apprehension at the alarming transformation in Riga Old Town's atmosphere, as more and more establishments offer tourists sexual services.

Likewise, the amount of sexual-related ads in travel guides has increased dramatically as the number of tourists to Latvia continues to grow.