We’ll Have to Start Eating Dirt

In January last year, the Kurzeme Business Incubator (KBI), in cooperation with the “Rietumkrasts” café, announced a competition for tourism business project ideas aimed at the further development of the area around Liepāja’s Northern Breakwater. Everyone interested in developing catering, accommodation, event organisation, sports training and equipment rental, as well as other types of services at this location, was invited to participate. “The competition ended in a damp squib,” says Vilmārs Bogdanovs, the owner of “Rietumkrasts”. None of the four proposals submitted by entrepreneurs has been implemented over the course of the year, at least not as originally intended.

“They were four very good proposals, but the municipal council did not support them,” V. Bogdanovs told “Kurzemes Vārds”. “Two were rejected because the location was supposedly unsuitable. But in this business, everything depends precisely on the location.”

SIA “LemonPop” wanted to install dome-shaped tents near the Northern Breakwater that could also be used for overnight stays in winter. SIA “BaltaisNams” had also planned to provide accommodation by installing wooden barrel-shaped cabins in a camping-style arrangement. “The environment near the Northern Breakwater is suitable, as there is already a café there and utilities have been connected. That would eliminate additional work for us. However, the Liepāja City Council replied that this location was not intended for business activities and belonged to the Liepāja Special Economic Zone,” says Svetlana Kuvakina, a representative of SIA “BaltaisNams”. The entrepreneur’s plans have currently stalled because, at another location, she would have to consider providing meals, showers and toilets for guests, which would mean substantial additional expenses. “It would be difficult to obtain such a large amount of funding for a project like this,” S. Kuvakina believes. Krista Rumba of SIA “LemonPop” received a rejection for the same reason. “The council suggested another location to us. We are considering installing the tents on Atteka Island, opposite the ‘Fishermen’s House’. The project has been submitted to Altum, and we are also writing to the council,” K. Rumba informs.

V. Bogdanovs himself wanted to implement two projects—to establish an electric bicycle rental service for sightseeing in Karosta and to purchase equipment for recreation on the water.