Tourism operators in eastern Latvia say repeated incursions by stray military drones linked to the war in Ukraine are driving visitors away from one of the country's most popular summer destinations, threatening hundreds of small businesses that rely on seasonal trade.
In Latvia's eastern lake district, near the Russian border, guesthouses, restaurants and activity providers report a growing number of cancellations as tourists become concerned about drone alerts and the possibility of having to seek shelter during their holidays.
At Birdwhistles Guesthouse, located in a forested area around 50 kilometres from the Russian border, owner Martins Kiščenko said all eight rooms currently stand empty, an unusual situation at the height of the summer season.
According to Kiščenko, two wedding parties cancelled their reservations at the last minute because guests were worried that drone alerts could disrupt their stay.
The region, often known as the Land of Blue Lakes, is renowned for its forests, lakes and outdoor activities, attracting visitors seeking fishing, hiking and nature-based tourism.
However, local tourism operators say security concerns are beginning to outweigh the area's natural appeal.
Jelena Kijaško, a representative of the regional tourism industry association, said around 500 small businesses could face financial difficulties if cancellations continue.
A survey conducted by the association found that 85% of tourism businesses had experienced booking cancellations linked to fears over drone activity, with some operators losing more than half of their expected future business.
Since March, stray Ukrainian military drones have entered the airspace of Latvia and neighbouring Baltic states. Kyiv and NATO countries say the drones were diverted from their intended targets inside Russia by Russian electronic jamming systems.
Although no injuries have been reported, the incidents have prompted authorities to issue repeated warnings urging residents to seek shelter.
Last month, two drones exploded in the town of Rēzekne, while two others struck a nearby oil storage facility, causing a fire.
After a two-week period without incidents raised hopes that the situation had stabilised, another drone was intercepted on Monday when a French NATO fighter jet shot it down.
Despite the incidents, local officials and tourism representatives insist the region remains safe for visitors.
Kijaško argued that the risk posed by the drones remains extremely low and should not deter tourists from visiting the area.
"We live here and we don't feel ourselves particularly endangered," she said.
"The probability of being in a road accident in Riga is much, much higher than having a drone fall on your head in the forest," Kijaško added.
In an effort to boost confidence, Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs plans to spend his summer holiday in the region, according to his spokesperson.
For many tourism businesses, however, concerns remain that the reputational damage caused by months of drone-related headlines could have a lasting impact on the crucial summer season.
Indian police detained more than 2,000 protesters in Delhi on Saturday as authorities blocked a planned demonstration calling for the resignation o...
A powerful explosion has been reported at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, raising fresh concerns over aviation security in Saudi Arabi...
At least 12 people, including three children, have been killed in a Russian attack on the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia, a day after U.S. Presiden...
Leaders of countries from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) have agreed to hold coordinated population censuses around 2030. They took the decision at the CIS Council of Heads of State meeting in Awaza, Turkmenistan on Friday, media reported.
A powerful explosion has been reported at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, raising fresh concerns over aviation security in Saudi Arabia as tensions across the region continue to escalate.
Britain and Israel have reached a temporary compromise over the future of the British Consulate General in East Jerusalem, easing a diplomatic dispute that had threatened to further strain relations between the two countries.
South African judge Navanethem “Navi” Pillay won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday “for her efforts to promote peace and international law,” the Norwegian Nobel Committee said.
The U.S. has imposed sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Friday (9 October) escalating tensions with European allies and potentially targeting companies that provide services to the tribunal. The move came hours after former ICC judge Navi Pillay won the Nobel Peace Prize.
Azerbaijan is seeking to attract more European visitors by improving air connectivity and raising its profile as an international tourism destination, with a new direct route between Brussels and Baku expected to support those efforts.
Saudi Arabia is opening up to more international travellers as tourism expands beyond religious travel. In Riyadh, historic landmarks stand alongside new developments and a rapidly changing skyline, while AlUla and Diriyah offer a glimpse into the kingdom’s heritage.
Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan are considering restoring passenger ferry services across the Caspian Sea, six years after the route was suspended.
Flights across some of Britain's busiest airports were thrown into chaos on Tuesday after a technical failure at air traffic control provider NATS disrupted the system used to process flight data.
Investigators said they have recovered the flight data and cockpit voice recorders from an Amazon Prime Air cargo plane that overran the runway and crashed while landing at Miami International Airport on Sunday (6 September), killing five people on the ground.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment