AGREEMENT
between the government of the Republic of Latvia and the Government of the Republic of Croatia on co-operation in the field of tourism

The Government of the Republic of Latvia and the Government of the Republic of Croatia, hereinafter referred to as the "Contracting Parties",

Recognising their mutual interest to establish tight and long-term co-operation in the field of tourism,

Desiring to develop relations in this field between both countries as well as their national tourist organizations,

Recognizing the importance of tourism development and its contribution to economic, cultural and social life of their countries,

Have agreed on the following:

Article 1

The Contracting Parties shall encourage the increase of the tourist flow between the Republic of Latvia and the Republic of Croatia for the purpose of improving the mutual respect and knowledge of life, history and culture of their nations.

The co-operation under the present Agreement shall be carried out in accordance with the laws and regulations that are in effect in the two countries, respectively, and the provisions of this Agreement.

Article 2

The Contracting Parties shall encourage closer mutual co-operation between their national tourism administrations and tourism organizations, as well as other tourism organizations participating in the development of international and domestic tourism.

Article 3

The Agreement does not affect the rights and obligations emerging from other binding international agreements of the Contracting Parties.

Article 4

The Contracting Parties shall co-operate in:

1. Development of tourism competitiveness and sustainability

2. Development of tourism safety and quality standards

3. Liberalisation of tourism formalities and other related formalities in tourist flow between the two countries, in accordance with the national legislation in both countries

4. Collection and exchange of statistical information, as well as national laws and regulations in the field of tourism

5. Participation in international tourism organizations

6. Education, training and research in the field of tourism

7. Reciprocal visits of travel writers and reporters from mass media.

Article 5

To enhance the implementation of this Agreement, the Contracting Parties shall establish a Joint Tourism Committee. The Committee shall be responsible for formulating joint proposals and working programme, which shall, inter alia, specify the terms and the conditions for the co-operation, and for supervising their implementation.

The Committee shall consist of equal number of representatives of each country including officials of the state institutions responsible for tourism.

The Committee shall meet once every two years, or as deemed necessary, alternately in the Republic of Latvia and the Republic of Croatia.

The Contracting Parties may invite experts and representatives of the private sector from both countries to participate in the activities of the Committee.

Article 6

The implementing authorities of the present Agreement shall be:

On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Latvia, the Ministry of Economics,

On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Croatia, the Ministry of the Sea, Tourism, Transport and Development.

Article 7

The Contracting Parties shall resolve any dispute arising from the interpretation and application of this Agreement through negotiations and consultations between the implementing authorities. If this does not lead to a solution, the dispute shall be resolved through the diplomatic channels.

Article 8

The present Agreement shall enter into force on the date of the of the receipt of the last notification in writing through diplomatic channels, by which the Contracting Parties notify each other that the legal prerequisites, specified by the respective national legislation for entering into force of the Agreement, have been fulfilled.

Article 9

The present Agreement shall be valid for a period of five (5) years and shall be automatically extended for further additional periods of five (5) years each unless denounced by either Contracting Party, notifying the other Contracting Party in writing through diplomatic channels of its intention to denounce the Agreement, not later than six (6) months prior to the expiry of the relevant period.

Termination of this Agreement shall not affect the completion of any activity undertaken under this Agreement and not fully implemented at the time of termination of this Agreement.

This Agreement may be amended by mutual written consent of the Contracting Parties. Any amendment of the present Agreement agreed upon by the Contracting Parties shall enter into force in accordance with the procedure stipulated by Article 8 of this Agreement.

DONE at Zagreb on this 22nd day of July 2005, in two originals each in the Latvian, Croatian and English languages, all texts being equally authentic. In case of divergence of interpretation the English text shall prevail.