CONFERENCETourism as a factor contributing to the well-being of the population in Latvia's coastal municipalities
Daina Vinklere
Turiba University
DOI: 10.22364/fg.15.39
Keywords: level of well-being of the population, socio-economic impact of tourism, identity of the region
Abstract
Over the past 25 years heightened attention and resources has been accorded to coastal municipalities for tourism development in Latvia with its almost 500 km long coastline in order to partly compensate to some extent the significant decrease in the traditional fishing and fish processing industries in the coastal regions and improve the welfare level of inhabitants and slow down their migration to the bigger cities. The study analyses the evaluation of local inhabitants of tourism development as a factor enhancing the inhabitants’ level of welfare of based on a survey carried out in the sample areas on the Kurzeme and Vidzeme coasts - Engure watershed area and Salacgriva municipalities which are similar in terms of resources and development level. The research results reveal similarities and differences in the inhabitants’ evaluation, which on the whole are more positive for the Salacgriva municipality area.