Riga wins hearts of conference organisers with new support scheme
Four months in, Riga Investment and Tourism Agency’s new support scheme for meetings and events in Latvia is proving successful. To date, the Agency has received several dozen applications from conference organisers planning events for 50 to 650 participants.
Aigars Smiltāns is the Head of Meetings and Events at MEET RIGA / Riga Investment and Tourism Agency and played a role in establishing the scheme. He acknowledges that the scheme is well designed and working according to plan: “We are delighted that the support scheme gained instant popularity among local meeting planners and associations! It is easy to apply, and the bureaucratic requirements are limited.”
The Agency launched the funding scheme to strengthen the appeal of Riga as a destination for meetings and events. It is intended for conferences, congresses, training events and trade shows, of which at least 20 percent of participants come from outside Latvia. The scheme is open to legal entities, associations, foundations and higher education establishments registered in Latvia. Event organisers from abroad are welcome to apply by partnering with a local industry representative or the Latvia Convention Bureau.
In May 2022, Kārlis Bankovičs organised the EUCO Riga 2022 conference for Rotaract members, which gathered 600 participants from 48 countries in the Northern capital of Latvia. He speaks of his experience: “Our conference wouldn’t have been possible without the financial support of the Agency. We are so grateful to the team for its varied assistance, which included arranging tour guides and even meeting the Mayor of Riga, Mārtiņš Staķis.”
For anyone seeking somewhere to host an upcoming event, MEET RIGA reminds that Latvia is a member of the European Union and NATO. Additionally, organisers may also apply for the Investment and Development Agency’s support scheme for the same event.
For detailed information on the new MEET RIGA scheme and how to apply, visit Co-financing Programme for Business Events » LiveRiga
Contacts:
Aigars Smiltans
Head of Meetings and Events / MEET RĪGA
Riga Investment and Tourism Agency
+371 2572 7845
About the Riga Investment and Tourism Agency
The Riga Investment and Tourism Agency was established on the 1st of April 2021.
The main goal of Riga Investment and Tourism Agency is to ensure sustainable and transparent investment and tourism promotion globally by serving as the single point of contact for any external interested parties, including investors, companies, tourists, and residents alike; to provide information, solve bottlenecks and ensure a thriving and sustainable environment for business development, thereby supporting the existing investment projects as well as attracting new ones, boosting tourism development and international recognition of Riga.
In a time of modern challenges, Riga Investment and Tourism Agency is a brave step towards new types of open and creative relationships between citizens, businesses and tourists.