In this recovery period Riga has seen a rise in the demand of international association conferences. Taking advantage of this momentum, Riga Investment and Tourism Agency (MEET RĪGA) decided to launch a support program for event organisers in order to boost further the industry.
In short, an association conference with at least 20 percent of its participants coming from outside Latvia, taking place at a hired venue and partnering with a local industry representative or the Latvia Convention Bureau, is eligible for the co-funding. The support amounts up to 20 euro per foreign delegate, with an additional 10 percent if it represents a priority industry, or, if at least 70 percent of foreign delegates are spending three or more nights at Riga accommodation facilities.
Aigars Smiltāns, head of meetings and events at MEET RĪGA, explains: “As an up-and-coming meetings and events destination in Northern Europe, we’re working to attract more congresses and conferences, especially ones highly relevant to local industries. We believe that international meetings and events taking place in Riga can have a deeper impact on local business and academic circles.”
Find out more about the support scheme here.