The Saeima¹ has adopted and
the President has proclaimed the following Law:

Tourism Law

Chapter I
General Provisions

Section 1. Terms Used in the Law

(1) The following terms are used in this Law:

1) active tourism - a type of tourism the main objective of which is active recreation and physical activities during the trip;

2) nature tourism - a type of tourism the objective of which is to discover nature, view typical landscapes, biotopes, observe plants and animals in natural conditions, as well as to educate oneself regarding issues of nature conservation;

3) [7 October 1999];

4) [22 November 2017];

5) package - a combination of at least two different tourism services within the same trip which conforms to one of the following requirements:

a) it is combined by one service provider, including upon request of the traveller or according to the choice made by the traveller before a single contract for all services is entered into;

b) regardless of whether separate contracts are entered into with service providers, tourism services are: purchased at one point of sale of tourism services and the traveller has chosen these services before agreeing to pay; offered, sold, or one inclusive or total price has been requested for them; advertised or sold under the words "package" or a similar term; combined after entering into such contract by which the service provider grants the traveller the right to choose from the offer of different types of tourism services; purchased from individual service providers using linked online booking processes if the service provider with which the first contract was entered into sends information regarding the given name and surname, payment details, and electronic mail address of the traveller to one or more service providers and a contract with the last service provider or service providers is entered into not later than 24 hours after confirmation of the booking of the first tourism service;

6) [10 December 2009];

7) culture tourism - a type of tourism the main objective of which is getting to know the cultural environment: cultural heritage, traditions and lifestyle, as well as current processes of culture and art;

8) resort - an administrative territory of a local government or a part thereof to which the status of a resort has been granted in accordance with the procedures laid down in laws and regulations;

9) recreational tourism - a type of tourism the objective of which is to renew a person's physical and mental potential, making rational use of natural and artificial recreation and recuperation resources;

10) sports tourism - competition in the best or fastest performance of individual skills of active tourism, as well as competition in set categories of difficulty in the completion of tourism routes;

11) international tourism - tourism of aliens in the territory of Latvia (export of tourism services) or the tourism of residents of Latvia in foreign states (import of tourism services);

12) tourism - a person's activities that are related to travelling and residence outside one's place of permanent residence for spending free time, completion of practical transactions or for another objective for not longer than one year;

13) tourist - a natural person who travels outside his or her permanent place of residence for not longer than one year, stays in a public or private accommodation for not less than one night, and does not carry out paid work in the place visited;

14) travel agent - a person who is not a tour operator but on behalf of or assigned by a tour operator offers for sale or sells the packages combined by the tour operator;

15) [16 February 2006];

16) tourism infrastructure - the aggregate of services of the tourism industry or other sectors related thereto (transport, trade, communications, culture, health protection etc.) which ensures the activity of the tourism industry;

17) tourist accommodation - part of a building a building, group of buildings, or arranged place (territory) in which a merchant or a performer of economic activity ensures daily accommodation and servicing of tourists;

18) tourism industry - an economic sector the task of which is the development and provision of tourism services;

19) tour operator - a person who combines and offers for sale or sells to travellers packages directly or with the intermediation of another service provider, or together with another service provider, as well as a service provider who sends the data of the traveller to another service provider in accordance with Sub-clause "b" of Clause 5;

20) tourism service - a purposeful activity for the satisfaction of the interests and needs of tourists which are:

a) the carriage of passengers;

b) accommodation which is not intrinsically part of the carriage of passengers and which is not intended for provision of a permanent place of residence;

c) rental of motor vehicles;

d) any other tourism service which is not an intrinsic part of the service referred to in Sub-clause "a", "b", or "c" of this Clause;

21) tourism resources - an aggregate of natural or man-made factors and stages that attract the emotional, spiritual, physical and recuperative interests of tourists;

22) domestic tourism - the tourism of residents of Latvia in Latvia;

23) rural tourism - a type of tourism the objective of which is, on the basis of local social, cultural and nature resources, to offer tourists the opportunity for recreation or the use of the tourist accommodation in rural territory;

24) eco-tourism - sustainable, environmentally friendly tourism the main objective of which is to facilitate the ascertainment of nature and cultural values and environmental protection, as well as to improve the environmental education and awareness of the general public;

25) [10 December 2009];

26) natural curative resources - mineral waters, thermal waters, surface waters, curative mud, clay, sand, forests, parks, climate and other natural resources, which, based on their properties proved by scientific research and practice, are used for improvement of the general condition and well-being of the body, as well as for prophylaxis, medical treatment and rehabilitation;

27) health tourism - a type of tourism the objective of which is improvement of the general condition and well-being of the body, prophylaxis, diagnostics, medical treatment and rehabilitation, using also natural curative resources;

28) medical treatment institution of a resort - a medical treatment institution in which prophylaxis, medical treatment and rehabilitation is performed, using natural curative resources;

29) package travel contract - a contract regarding a package as a whole or, if a package is offered according to separate contracts, all contracts covering the tourism services included in the package;

30) traveller - a natural person or a legal person who wishes to enter into a contract regarding the provision of a package travel or linked travel arrangement or who has the right to travel on the basis of a contract regarding the provision of a package travel or linked travel arrangement;

31) the point of sale of a tourism service - any retail premises, whether movable or immovable, or website or similar online sales facility, including retail websites or online sales facilities which are offered to the traveller as a single facility, including as a telephone service;

32) linked travel arrangement - at least two different tourism services purchased within the framework of one trip which do not constitute a package, and separate contracts regarding them have been entered into with service providers, and the service provider facilitates the traveller to choose separately and pay separately for each tourism service in one visit to a point of sale of tourism services or during one time of contact, or purposefully facilitates the purchase of at least one additional tourism service from another service provider, if a contract with that service provider is entered into not later than 24 hours after confirmation of the booking of the first tourism service;

33) repatriation of a traveller - the return of a traveller to the place of departure or to another place agreed upon by the contracting parties.

(2) Within the meaning of this Law a combination of tourism services which contains not more than one of the tourism services referred to in Paragraph one, Clause 20, Sub-clause "a", "b", or "c" of this Section and one or more of the tourism services referred to in Sub-clause "d" is not considered to be a package, if the tourism services referred to in Sub-clause "d" do not represent a significant part of the value of the combination of tourism services, and are not advertised or otherwise presented as a significant feature of the combination of tourism services or have been selected and purchased only after the start of the provision of the tourism service referred to in Sub-clause "a", "b", or "c".

(3) Within the meaning of this Law one of the purchased tourism services referred to in Paragraph one, Clause 20, Sub-clause "a", "b", or "c" of this Section and one or more of the tourism services referred to in Sub-clause "d" purchased in addition thereto is not considered to be a linked travel arrangement, if the tourism services referred to in Sub-clause "d" do not represent a significant part of the value of the combination of tourism services, and are not advertised or otherwise presented as a significant feature of the combination of tourism services.

[7 October 1999; 24 January 2002; 16 February 2006; 10 December 2009; 14 June 2012; 22 November 2017; 8 October 2020]

Section 2. Purpose of this Law

The purpose of this Law is to create a legal basis for the development of the tourism industry in Latvia, to specify the procedures by which State administrative institutions, local governments, and merchants operate in the area of tourism, and to protect the interests of tourists.

[24 January 2002; 16 February 2006]

Section 3. Tasks of Tourism Industry

The main tasks of the tourism industry are as follows:

1) to provide free and equal opportunities for tourism, to increase its economic effectiveness, and to create new jobs, and also to promote welfare of the population;

2) to support integration of Latvia into the international tourism trade;

3) to support the development of domestic tourism and the export of tourism services;

3¹) [8 October 2020];

4) by facilitating the development of sustainable tourism, to promote the preservation, rational use and enhancement of the social, economic, cultural environment, cultural and natural heritage and qualitative landscape throughout Latvia;

5) to ensure and promote rational use of natural curative resources for improvement of the general condition and well-being of the body, prophylaxis, medical treatment and rehabilitation, as well as to ensure the development of resorts conforming to the environmental protection requirements and promoting the internal consumption and export of resort services;

6) to increase the competitiveness of those merchants which provide tourism services;

7) to promote the granting of reliefs for tourism services directed towards ensuring the interests and needs of pensioners, persons with disabilities, young persons and children;

8) to provide comprehensive and precise information regarding tourism resources and tourism services in Latvia and foreign countries;

9) to support the raising of the quality of tourism services and the qualifications of those employed in the tourism industry;

10) to ensure harmonised development of tourism according to nature and cultural environment protection so that tourism does not come into conflict with nature and cultural environment protection.

[24 January 2002; 16 February 2006; 14 June 2012; 8 October 2020]

Chapter II
Tourism Policy

Section 4. Objective of Tourism Policy

(1) The State shall form a tourism policy in order to ensure the rational use and protection of tourism resources and to specially promote the development of local and international tourism.

(2) Tourism development policy planning documents shall be developed for the establishment and implementation of tourism policy.

[16 February 2006]

Section 5. State Means of Implementing Tourism Policy

For the support of tourism development, the State, taking into account social, economic, cultural and regional development strategy, shall use:

1) a long-term, stable fiscal policy that is supportive of tourism development;

2) State financial and credit policy;

3) local and foreign investments;

4) local and international tourism development programmes and projects;

5) international agreements on co-operation in the field of tourism;

6) a visa regime and border-crossing procedure that is supportive of tourism development.

[27 February 2003]

Section 6. Government Competence in Provision of Tourism Development

(1) The Ministry of Economics is the leading (highest) institution in the tourism industry. Its functions shall be determined by the Cabinet.

(2) The main tasks of the Ministry of Economics in the field of tourism are as follows:

1) to develop tourism development State policy and to organise and co-ordinate the implementation thereof;

2) to develop draft laws and regulations;

3) to represent the State's interests in the tourism industry;

4) to plan State aid to the tourism industry;

5) [24 January 2002];

6) [16 February 2006];

7) to prepare and implement international agreements regarding co-operation in the field of tourism, as well as to co-ordinate the development of international projects;

8) to ensure the process of granting and cancellation of the status of a resort.

(3) The State policy for tourism development shall be implemented by the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia under the authority of the Minister for Economics.

(4) [17 December 2015]

[7 October 1999; 24 January 2002; 27 February 2003; 16 February 2006; 14 June 2012; 17 December 2015; 8 October 2020]

Section 6.¹ Resort and Granting of the Status Thereof

(1) A resort is a territory which has been granted the status of a resort in accordance with the procedures specified in this Law and which conforms to all of the following conditions:

1) natural curative resources are available therein;

2) at least one medical treatment institution of a resort is operating therein;

3) natural curative resources are used in order to ensure the operation of the medical treatment institution of a resort located in the relevant territory;

4) the environmental quality indicators conform to the requirements specified in laws and regulations;

5) an appropriate tourism infrastructure has been established therein;

6) the development thereof is planned purposefully.

(2) The status of a resort shall be granted to the relevant territory and cancelled by the Cabinet.

(3) The Cabinet shall decide on granting of the status of a resort to the relevant territory on the basis of an application of the local government submitted in accordance with the procedures stipulated by the Cabinet. Concurrently with the application the local government shall submit:

1) a decision of the local government council according to which it is requested to grant the status of a resort to the relevant territory;

2) spatial development planning documents which confirm the boundaries of the territory of the resort and development prospects of the resort in the administrative territory of the local government;

3) documents confirming the conformity of the relevant territory with Paragraph one of this Section;

4) development planning documents of the resort which confirm that the relevant local government has planned the development of the resort in at least medium-term.

(4) The relevant territory shall acquire the status of a resort from the day when the Cabinet has taken a decision to grant the status of a resort to the territory.

(5) The relevant local government shall, not less than once in two years according to the procedures stipulated by the Cabinet, provide a report on the development of the resort provided for in the spatial development planning documents and the environmental quality indicators.

(6) The Cabinet shall decide on cancellation of the status of a resort if at least one of the following conditions has set in:

1) the local government council has taken a decision according to which it is requested to cancel the status of a health report for the relevant territory;

2) natural curative resources are not available in the territory to which the status of a resort has been granted, or they are not used in order to ensure the operation of medical treatment institution of the resort located in the territory;

3) an appropriate tourism infrastructure has not been established in the territory to which the status of a resort has been granted;

4) the relevant local government does not submit the report referred to in Paragraph five of this Section within the specified time limit;

5) the relevant local government does not ensure the development of the resort provided for in the spatial and resort development planning documents;

6) the environmental quality indicators do not conform to the requirements of laws and regulations.

(7) The procedures by which the status of a resort shall be granted and cancelled for the territory, as well as information to be included in an application for granting of the status of a resort shall be determined by the Cabinet.

[14 June 2012; 8 October 2020]

Section 7. Competence of the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia in the Field of Tourism

In the field of tourism, the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia shall:

1) ensure the implementation of Latvian tourism development policy;

2) implement measures promoting tourism in Latvia and abroad;

3) introduce State and private partnership tourism development projects;

4) attract financial resources for tourism development;

5) create and maintain the Latvian tourism information systems;

6) [17 December 2015];

7) participate in the implementation of intergovernmental co-operation agreements in the field of tourism;

8) carry out research into the local and international tourism market;

9) perform introduction of the quality management in the field of tourism, the conformity assessment of Latvian tourism and providers of services related thereto, as well as of merchants.

[12 June 2009; 14 June 2012; 17 December 2015; 8 October 2020]

Section 8. Competence of Local Governments in the Field of Tourism

In the field of tourism, local governments shall:

1) determine prospects of tourism, including resort, development and territories of resorts, in the spatial development planning documents;

2) in conformity with the spatial development planning documents provide measures for tourism, including resort, development, and also provision of comprehensive and precise information in Latvia and foreign countries regarding tourism opportunities, natural curative resources, and services of resorts;

3) in conformity with the spatial development planning documents, ensure the preservation and sustainable development of tourism objects and opportunities to use them for tourism purposes;

4) participate in the development and financing of tourism information centres, points, and stands;

5) fosters cultural and educational activities in the field of tourism and the promotion of a healthy and active lifestyle;

6) promotes and develops a productive environment for private commercial activities.

[16 February 2006; 14 June 2012; 8 October 2020]

Section 8.¹ Competence of the Consumer Rights Protection Centre in the Field of Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements

(1) The Consumer Rights Protection Centre shall perform the following functions:

1) issue a special permit (licence) to a travel agent and tour operator, as well as suspend and renew or revoke the operation of the issued special permit (licence);

2) ensure creation and maintenance of a database of travel agents, tour operators and tour service providers which facilitate linked travel arrangements, and updating the data entered therein, as well as the publication of information on the website of the Consumer Rights Protection Centre;

3) perform the tasks intended for central contact points specified in Article 18(2) of Directive (EU) 2015/2302 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2015 on package travel and linked travel arrangements, amending Regulation (EC) No 2006/2004 and Directive 2011/83/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Council Directive 90/314/EEC;

4) supervise the activities of the tour operator, travel agent and tourism service provider which facilitate linked travel arrangements and their conformity with laws and regulations that regulate the field of package travel and linked travel arrangements.

(2) The procedures by which the Consumer Rights Protection Centre shall implement the functions specified in this Section, the requirements for a travel agent and tour operator in order for it to receive a special permit (licence), the cases in which a special permit (licence) is suspended, renewed, or revoked, the procedures by which a travel agent, a tour operator, and a tourism service provider which facilitates linked travel arrangements shall be registered and suspended in the database shall be determined by the Cabinet.

[22 November 2017; 8 October 2020]

Section 9. Latvian Tourism Advisory Council

(1) The Latvian Tourism Advisory Council is a consultative body established by the Cabinet the purpose of which is to promote the development, implementation and evaluation of a harmonised tourism policy.

(2) The by-laws of the Latvian Tourism Advisory Council shall be approved by the Cabinet.

[8 October 2020]

Section 10. Tourism Fund

[10 December 2009]

Part III
Tourism Services

[16 February 2006]

Section 11. Tourism Service Providers and the Types of Activities Thereof

(1) [22 November 2017]

(2) The following types of tourism services and activities of the following tourism service providers are governed by this Law:

1) tour operator;

2) travel agent;

2¹ a tourism service provider which facilitates linked tourism arrangements;

3) [10 December 2009];

4) tourist accommodation;

5) tourism information office, centre, point;

6) tourist guide.

(3) [7 October 1999]

(4) [16 February 2006]

(5) [22 November 2017]

(5¹) [22 November 2017]

(5²) [22 November 2017]

(5³) [22 November 2017]

(6) [10 December 2009]

(7) A merchant and a performer of economic activities shall ensure that the foreigners accommodated in tourist accommodation personally complete and sign a declaration form and prove their identity, presenting a valid identification document. This provision shall not apply to the spouse, minor children of the abovementioned foreigner, and members of a tourist group. The declaration form for foreigners who travel in tourist groups shall be completed and signed by the tourist group leader. The sample of the declaration form, the procedures and the time periods for the completion, signing, and storage thereof, as well as the procedures by which they shall be transferred to law enforcement authorities shall be determined by the Cabinet.

[7 October 1999; 24 January 2002; 16 February 2006; 12 June 2009; 10 December 2009; 14 June 2012; 22 November 2017; 8 October 2020]

Section 12. Obligations and Liability of a Tourism Company (Enterprise)

[7 October 1999]

Section 13. Mandatory Requirements of Tourist Accommodation

[24 January 2002]

Section 14. Providers of Tourism Information

(1) The division of providers of tourism information in Latvia is as follows:

1) [17 December 2015];

2) tourism information centre - an association, State or local government institution, an institution established by a local government or several local governments which provides information regarding tourism objects, services and assists in the use of tourist services;

3) tourism information point - an association, local government institution, an institution established by a local government or several local governments which provides information regarding tourism objects and services in the relevant administrative territory and assists in the use of tourist services;

4) tourism information stand - information equipment or stand which contains information regarding tourism objects and services.

(2) Conformity assessment and certification of tourism information centres and tourism information points shall be voluntary.

(3) Conformity assessment and certification of tourism information centres and tourism information points in conformity with Latvian national standards shall be performed by certification institutions accredited in accordance with the procedures laid down in laws and regulations.

[16 February 2006; 17 December 2015]

Section 15. Activity of Guides

[7 October 1999]

Section 15.¹ Tourist Guide as a Provider of Tourism Services

(1) A tourist guide is a professionally prepared person who provides detailed information regarding tourism objects, as well as conducts a trip of local or foreign tourists according to previously developed routes.

(2) A relevant local government has the right to determine those tourism objects, as well as sightseeing places included in the tourism routes (historical centres, cultural and historical objects, culture monuments, places of activity of famous persons, etc.), within public outdoors of the administrative territory thereof regarding which detailed information may be provided by the guide who has certified his or her vocational qualification.

(3) A local government has the right to specify the requirements for professional qualification of tourist guides, the procedures by which tourist guides shall be certified, tourist guide services shall be provided and the supervision and control of their professional activities shall be implemented, the authority which shall certify tourist guides, as well as those tourism objects and sightseeing places located in the public outdoor space, regarding which the information may be provided by tourist guides who have confirmed their professional qualification. The local government has the right to, in compliance with the provisions of the Administrative Liability Law, provide in binding regulations administrative liability for non-compliance with the determined requirements or procedures.

[10 December 2009; 14 June 2012; 30 January 2020 / Amendments to Paragraph three shall come into force on 1 July 2020. See Paragraph 3 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 16. Provision of Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements

(1) A tour operator may organise and provide packages, but a tour operator and a travel agent may offer for sale or sell packages if it has been registered in the Commercial Register, the Register of Associations and Foundations, or the Register of Taxpayers and has received a special permit (licence) in accordance with the procedures laid down in laws and regulations. The special permit (licence) shall be issued for an indefinite period of time. The tour operator and the travel agent shall pay the annual State duty for the special permit (licence).

(2) A tour operator must register in the database referred to in Section 8.¹, Paragraph one, Clause 2 of this Law and must provide a security for the reimbursement of all those payments which have been made by or on behalf of travellers, insofar as the operator is unable to fully or partially fulfil its obligations and provide the relevant services due to the liquidity problems thereof. In the event of repatriation of a traveller, the traveller may be offered a continuation of the package according to the contract entered into.

(3) A tourism service provider which facilitates linked travel arrangements shall register in the database referred to in Section 8.¹, Paragraph one, Clause 2 of this Law and provide a security for the reimbursement of all payments received from travellers, insofar as the tourism service provider which facilitates linked travel arrangements is unable to fully or partially fulfil its obligations and to provide a tourism service that falls within the scope of the linked travel arrangement due to its liquidity problems. Where such tourism service provider carries out carriage of passengers, it shall also provide a security in respect of repatriation of travellers.

(4) A travel agent must register in the database referred to in Section 8.¹, Paragraph one, Clause 2 of this Law. It may only offer for sale or sell such a package which is secured in the event of the non-fulfilment or inadequate fulfilment due to liquidity problems of the tour operator.

(5) The security for the tour operator and the tourism service provider which facilitates linked travel arrangements shall be an insurance policy issued by an insurer or a guarantee issued by a credit institution. The amount of security must be sufficient and effective. When determining the amount of security, the turnover in the field of package travel and linked travel arrangements shall be taken into account - the total amount of money received from travellers within a specified period for a package travel arrangement or a service included in a linked tourism arrangement.

(6) The expenses necessary for ensuring repatriation of travellers and the expenses of travellers which have been incurred due to the non-fulfilment or inadequate fulfilment of the obligations of the tourism service provider shall be covered in cases stipulated by the Cabinet from the resources of the State budget for unforeseen cases. The Cabinet shall determine the procedures for recovering the resources used for ensuring repatriation of travellers from a tour operator, a travel agent, and a tourism service provider which facilitates linked travel arrangements due to the non-fulfilment or inadequate fulfilment of the tourism service provider.

(7) A tourism service provider which facilitates linked travel arrangements, a travel agent, and a tour operator that is not established in the territory of the European Union, but offers for sale or sells package or linked travel arrangements in Latvia or who directs such business to Latvia in any way, shall register in the database referred to in Section 8.¹, Paragraph one, Clause 2 of this Law and shall provide a security for the reimbursement of all the payments carried out by or on behalf of travellers, insofar as the tourism service provider which facilitates linked travel arrangements is unable to fully or partially fulfil its obligations and provide the respective services. Where a package travel or linked travel arrangement includes carriage of passengers, the tour operator or the tourism service provider which facilitates linked travel arrangements shall provide a security in respect of repatriation of travellers.

(8) The requirements of this Section shall not apply to:

1) a provider of package travel or linked travel arrangements which provides a package travel or linked travel arrangements covering a period of less than 24 hours, unless tourist accommodation is included therein;

2) a provider of package travel or linked travel arrangements which offers or facilitates the sale of services only in individual cases, without profit-making purposes and only to a limited group of travellers;

3) a provider of package travel or linked travel arrangements which provides services on the basis of a general contract regarding the organisation of business trips which has been entered into between a service provider and another natural person or legal person who acts within the scope of his or her economic or professional activities;

4) a provider of package travel or linked travel arrangements established in another European Union Member State, if it has a security for non-fulfilment of obligations or inadequate fulfilment thereof in accordance with the legal acts of the relevant Member State.

(9) The procedures for the preparation and provision of a package travel and linked travel arrangements, the rights and obligations of providers of package travel and linked travel arrangements and travellers, the amount of the State duty for the issuance of a special permit (licence), and the procedures for payment, as well as the procedures for the calculation, contribution, and payment of the security of the tourism service provider for non-fulfilment of obligations or inadequate fulfilment thereof shall be determined by the Cabinet.

[22 November 2017; 8 October 2020]

Section 16.¹ Conformity Assessment and Certification of Tourist Accommodation

(1) Conformity assessment and certification of tourist accommodation shall be voluntary.

(2) Conformity assessment and certification of tourist accommodation according to Latvian national standards shall be performed by a certification institution accredited in accordance with the procedures laid down in laws and regulations.

[14 June 2012]

Section 16.² Limitations of the Provision of Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements

(1) A tour operator is prohibited from organising, providing, offering for sale, or selling packages if, in accordance with the procedures laid down in laws and regulations, it:

1) has not received the special permit (licence);

2) has not paid the annual State duty for a special permit (licence);

3) has not ensured the security specified in Section 16, Paragraph two of this Law for the non-fulfilment of obligations or inadequate fulfilment thereof due to liquidity problems.

(2) A travel agent is prohibited from offering for sale or selling packages if, in accordance with the procedures laid down in laws and regulations, it:

1) has not received the special permit (licence);

2) has not paid the annual State duty for a special permit (licence).

(3) A tourism service provider which facilitates linked travel arrangements is prohibited from organising, providing, offering for sale, or selling linked travel arrangements if, in accordance with the procedures laid down in laws and regulations, it:

1) has not registered in the database referred to in Section 8.¹, Paragraph one, Clause 2 of this Law;

2) has not ensured the security specified in Section 16, Paragraph three of this Law for the non-fulfilment of obligations or inadequate fulfilment thereof due to liquidity problems.

[22 November 2017; 8 October 2020]

Chapter IV
Protection and Security of Rights of Tourists

Section 17. Safety of Tourists

(1) A tourist has the right to receive information on any question that is related to his or her trip from the merchant which provides tourism services.

(2) A merchant which provides tourism services has an obligation to:

1) based on information provided by State authorities, inform the tourist regarding the security situation in the place to which the tourist desires to travel;

2) when selling packages, offer the tourist medical or another type of insurance related to travel;

3) provide parents, guardians, or trustees with information that would allow them to maintain contact with persons who are travelling or for whom they are responsible;

4) [22 November 2017].

(3) In active tourism and sports tourism events, organisers of the relevant event shall be responsible for the security of the tourists and the fulfilment of special technical requirements.

(4) The tourist is responsible for conformity with this Law and other laws and regulations, as well as for the fulfilment of obligations that are provided for in the contract entered into between a merchant and the tourist.

[24 January 2002; 16 February 2006; 10 December 2009; 22 November 2017]

Section 18. International Co-operation in the Field of Protection of Rights and Security of Tourists

(1) Latvia shall co-operate with other countries in order, if necessary, to ensure:

1) the fast delivery of the tourist to the country of residence, if he or she has suffered trauma in an accident or illegal activity has been committed against him or her;

2) the delivery of property stolen and later found to the country of residence;

3) the provision of emergency medical treatment;

4) that all necessary information on the condition of health of the victim and the circumstances in which illegal activity has been committed against the tourist is rapidly placed at the disposal of the country of permanent residence;

5) the delivery of his or her mortal remains to the country of permanent residence in the event of the tourist's death.

(2) The protection of the rights of Latvian tourists in foreign states shall be implemented by the diplomatic and consular representative offices of the Republic of Latvia.

Chapter V
Administrative Offences in the Field of the Provision of Tourism Services and Competence in the Administrative Offence Proceedings

[30 January 2020 / Chapter shall come into force on 1 July 2020. See Paragraph 3 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 19. Administrative Offences in the Field of the Provision of Tourism Services

For the violation of the rules for checking the information provided in the foreignerʼs declaration form, storage or transfer of the form, a warning or fine of up to eighty-six units of fine shall be imposed on a natural person, but a fine of up to one hundred and fifty-six units of fine - on a legal person.

[30 January 2020 / Section shall come into force on 1 July 2020. See Paragraph 3 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 20. Competence in the Administrative Offence Proceedings

(1) Administrative offence proceedings regarding the offences referred to in Section 19 of this Law shall be conducted by the State Police.

(2) Until examination of the administrative offence case, the administrative offence proceedings for the offences referred to in Section 19 of this Law shall be conducted also by the State Border Guard, but the administrative offence case shall be examined by the State Police.

[30 January 2020 / Section shall come into force on 1 July 2020. See Paragraph 3 of Transitional Provisions]

Transitional Provisions

[24 January 2002]

1. The Cabinet shall establish the Latvian Tourism Development Agency by 1 July 2002.

2. The Cabinet shall approve the by-laws of the Tourism Fund referred to in Section 10, Paragraph three of this Law by 1 July 2002.

3. Section 11, Paragraph six of this Law shall come into force on 1 January 2008.

[16 February 2006]

4. Section 11, Paragraph seven of this Law shall come into force on 1 January 2007.

[16 February 2006]

5. New wording of Section 11, Paragraph five of this Law, as well as Paragraphs 5.¹, 5.², and 5.³ shall come into force on 1 March 2010.

[10 December 2009]

6. The Cabinet shall, not later than by 1 March 2010, issue the regulations referred to in Section 11, Paragraph five of this Law.

[10 December 2009]

7. Amendments to Section 1, Clause 8, Section 1, Clause 28, Section 6, Paragraph two, Clause 8, Section 6.¹, as well as amendments to Section 8, Clauses 1, 2, and 3 (procedures for granting of the status of a resort) of this Law shall come into force on 28 December 2012.

[14 June 2012]

8. The Cabinet shall issue the regulations referred to in Section 6.¹, Paragraph seven of this Law by 28 December 2012.

[14 June 2012]

9. The Consumer Rights Protection Centre shall fulfil the functions specified in Section 8.¹, Paragraph one of this Law from 1 July 2018.

[22 November 2017]

10. A tour operator and a travel agent shall fulfil the requirements specified in Section 16, Paragraph one of this Law from 1 July 2018.

[22 November 2017]

11. A tourism service provider which facilitates linked travel arrangements shall ensure the security provided for in Section 16, Paragraph five of this Law from 1 July 2018.

[22 November 2017]

12. Repatriation of travellers in accordance with Section 16, Paragraph six of this Law shall be ensured from 1 July 2018.

[22 November 2017]

13. A tour operator and a travel agent which has commenced the provision of package travel or linked travel arrangements until 30 June 2018 is entitled to organise and supply or offer the relevant service for sale, without the special permit (licence) specified in this Law, not later than until 30 June 2019.

[22 November 2017]

14. A tour operator which has commenced its activities until 30 June 2018 has an obligation to maintain in effect the insurance contract or guarantee of a credit institution throughout the period of operation thereof, in accordance with that specified in Cabinet Regulation No. 353 of 13 April 2010, Regulations Regarding the Rights and Duties of Tourism Operators, Tourism Agents and Clients, the Procedures for the Preparation and Implementation of a Package Tourism Service, the Information to be Provided to a Client and the Procedures for Deposition of Security Guarantee of Money. Upon switching or extending an insurance contract or guarantee after 30 June 2018, the tour operator shall ensure the fulfilment of the requirements laid down in Section 16, Paragraphs two and five of this Law.

[22 November 2017]

15. The obligation specified in Section 16, Paragraph seven of this Law to provide a security regarding non-fulfilment of obligations or inadequate fulfilment thereof shall take effect from 1 July 2018 for a tourism service provider which facilitates linked travel arrangements, a travel agent, and a tour operator which is not established in the territory of the European Union.

[22 November 2017]

16. The Cabinet shall by 1 July 2018 issue the regulations referred to in Section 8.¹, Paragraph two and Section 16, Paragraphs six and nine of this Law.

[22 November 2017]

17. Cabinet Regulation No. 353 of 13 April 2010, Regulations Regarding the Rights and Obligations of Tourism Operators, Tourism Agents and Clients, the Procedures for the Preparation and Implementation of a Package Tourism Service, the Information to be Provided to a Client and the Procedures for Deposition of Security Guarantee of Money (Latvijas Vēstnesis, 2010, No. 61; 2013, Nos. 27, 148; 2016, No. 79) shall be in force until 30 June 2018, insofar as it is not in contradiction with this Law.

[22 November 2017]

18. Until 30 June 2018 the Ministry of Economics shall ensure registration of travel agents and tour operators in the database of travel agents and tour operators. The database shall be maintained by the Ministry of Economics until 30 June 2019.

[22 November 2017]

19. Travel agents and tour operators which have been registered in the database of travel agents and tour operators until 30 June 2018 and have not re-registered in the database referred to in Section 8.¹, Paragraph one, Clause 2 of this Law may provide the services of a travel agent and a tour operator until 30 June 2019.

[22 November 2017]

20. Amendments to this Law regarding supplementation of Section 15¹, Paragraph three and Chapter V of this Law shall come into force concurrently with the Law on Administrative Liability.

[30 January 2020]

21. The Cabinet shall, by 1 February 2021, issue the regulations referred to in Section 9, Paragraph two of this Law. Until the day of coming into force of the relevant Cabinet regulations, but no longer than until 1 February 2021, the Cabinet Regulation No. 666 of 25 November 2003, By-laws of the Latvian Tourism Advisory Council, shall be applicable.

[8 October 2020]

Informative Reference to European Union Directive

[22 November 2017]

This Law contains legal norms arising from Directive (EU) 2015/2302 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2015 on package travel and linked travel arrangements, amending Regulation (EC) No 2006/2004 and Directive 2011/83/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Council Directive 90/314/EEC.

This Law shall come into force on 1 January 1999, but Paragraph 16 of this Law - on 1 January 2000.

This Law has been adopted by the Saeima on 17 September 1998.

President G. Ulmanis

Rīga, 7 October 1998

¹ The Parliament of the Republic of Latvia

Translation © 2022 Valsts valodas centrs (State Language Centre)