"Russia's aggression threatens tourism not only in Ukraine but also in other countries in the region. It is destroying the tourism ecosystem, which is still in the early stages of recovery from the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The effects of the war are being felt in all countries, with some tourists questioning the safety of the countries supporting Ukraine. We see the need to discuss and take decisions at both political and business level that will allow us to take joint initiatives with our neighbours to make a stand for peace, revitalise and promote tourism in the region," said Aušrinė Armonaitė, Minister of the Economy and Innovation.
A.Armonaitė said that we need to clearly communicate that we are members of NATO and the EU and that it is safe to travel in Lithuania and neighbouring countries. Joint efforts with Latvia, Estonia and Poland are expected to help bring tourists back to our region.
"Lithuania fully supports Ukraine and we are ready to contribute with support and cooperation to revitalise tourism. We will support Ukraine's membership in European tourism associations, invite students to study in Lithuania, and provide methodological assistance," said the Minister.
During the event in Vilnius, tourism issues are discussed from various angles. Meetings of heads of national tourism administrations are taking place to share ongoing tourism marketing projects and future plans. The aim is to agree on promoting tourism by attracting tourists from distant markets, developing joint tourism products, promoting travel tech initiatives and implementing sustainable and accessible tourism projects.
Representatives of the ministries responsible for tourism and the European Commission present plans on how they can support Ukraine and increase tourist flows. Heads of national tourism business associations from Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland and Ukraine discuss possible cooperation in developing tourism products, increasing the length of tourist stays, stimulating spending, and increasing the benefits of tourism for local communities.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of foreign tourists in Lithuania in 2020 and 2021 was only a quarter (26%) of the 2019 level. Recently, there has been a recovery in tourist arrivals, with two-thirds tourists arriving in March and April 2022 compared to the same period in 2019. This is the highest number since the beginning of the pandemic.
