The company Livu Aqua Park formally asked the Latvian Ministry of Economy to decrease VAT, but the request has been refused. Livu Aqua Park’s executive director, Velta Lasmane, claims that waterparks enjoy VAT reductions in countries such as Germany and Lithuania (though the incoming Lithuanian government is likely to cancel all VAT discounts). She thinks that the company deserves recognition for “making great input”, for example through the reconstruction of Vienibas Street, making Latvia and Jurmala more popular as a destination and developing tourism in Latvia. According to data from Baltic Monitor, Livu Aqua Park recently ranked third in a survey about the country’s attractions among foreign tourists. The park is popular among Lithuanian and Estonian tourists in particular. Latvian State Tourism Development Agency Director Uldis Vitolins says that waterparks in Lithuania are now Livu Aqua Park’s main competitors.

 

Dienas Bizness, 2008-12-09