PART
II
development of
Liepaja urban core and beach and its seaside park
Development of Liepaja urban core (written by Filips Lacars)
The
bases for urban core development are its natural and cultural attractions,
existing infrastructure and human resources. With respect to natural
attractions, the Liepaja may not have scenery as spectacular as in other cities
of Europe, but in many cases it houses more rich and diverse ecosystems, which
have not been degraded by pollution or overuse. During the Soviet period, the
provision and improvement of tourism services, and indeed basic infrastructure
were not such a high priority, and the industry was in decline.
Today,
almost ten years after re-independence, studies undertaken by EU experts show
that in 1996 tourism in Latvia accounted for more than 5% of GDP and almost 8%
of State exports. Tourism is once again a growth industry. Infrastructure is
being renewed and improved, information is more readily available, and both
local and foreign entrepreneurs are looking for new opportunities.
Since
re-independence in 1991, Liepaja Municipality has been very active in
redefining its role. A number of important political and economic issues have
been resolved, and a number of large projects are currently completed or underway
for the improvement of infrastructure. The time is now ripe for the drafting of
a realistic Tourism Development Strategy, based on the successful activities
completed to date, and which will help guide tourism development in a
sustainable and environmentally-friendly manner involving both public and
private sector resources.
At present tourism development
occurs as and when funds become available, on an ad-hoc basis, and there is
currently no co-ordinated programme for the maximisation of positive effects
and minimisation of negative effects. In order to prevent rapid and
unsustainable development, which will have to be rectified at a later stage, a
pro-active approach should be taken. This should include capacity building
within the public sector and the enacting of conditions which will attract
private sector interest.
Tourism becomes one of the most important branches of the economy of
Liepaja, providing a wide range of opportunities for entertainment of good
quality.
It is needed
to develop urban core of the city. Of great importance are camping facilities,
because, city is visited by big number of tourists, who travel with bicycles,
busses and on foot, with motorcycles, and who would like to overnight in a
tents or inexpensive camping houses.
The urban
core of Liepaja – its historical centre. City historical centre first of all
represents city “face”, its image, by which we know Liepaja ourselves and which
it stays in a memory of guests. In a centre are represented practically all
functions – businesses, shopping, municipalities and social establishments,
entertainment and education, flats. Centre is a job place in everyday life. It
is also everyday goal or transit point for the main part of inhabitants. It has
also important place in green area of the city (beach, Seaside Park).
Although
there are no world famous buildings or masterpieces of the well-known
architects, the architecture of Liepaja represents a lovely and rich collection
of buildings from the second part of the 19th and beginning of this
century. As the new economic life of Liepaja began after 1860, a lot of
buildings of public use, luxury private villas and apartment houses with shops
were erected.
Part
of cultural attractions, such as churches, cathedrals and historical buildings
in the urban core are in very bad conditions. It is probably not possible to
preserve all of them, but it is needed to preserve most important historical heritage.
To preserve
urban core – the historical centre as an important Europe cultures and historical
heritage component, it needs to work out city politics related to historical
building protection.
Historical
centre needs carefully analyse, program and planning. It is advised to “open”
access to Trade Channel from the Tram Bridge to the sea. It would give a
possibility to form new business/tourism centre, opening attractive sight
points and panorama from the centre to sea and channel with this.
At present,
mostly business establishments are located in historical centre, but it can be
difficult to develop these establishments, because of town building monument
protection rules. Also car entrance in Liepaja historical centre is problematic
and it has to be limited, forming parking areas out of centre.
Historical
centre has all opportunities to develop as city business centre also in future.
Although, to avoid loneliness of this part of city in the evenings and in the
nights time, apart business centre functions, it needs to provide also living
functions preserving, the same as municipality establishment planned removing
out of it in a real time perspective. Together with this it will promote social
service function avtivization in other passive microregions of the city.
Necessary improvements of buildings
The bridge gates (The
Novatoru club)
Located near the Trade Channel. Novatoru Club is
strategically good place for Tourism Information Bureau or any business
establishment, but it is in very bad conditions and needs lot of
investigations. The bridge gates or the bridge houses (today called Novatoru Club)
were built in 1772. At that time there were two separate buildings here and the
exit from the bridge was between them (the wooden bridge was built in 1810 and
1830). In 1898 the council decided to make the buildings into a “Workers
house”. The two separate buildings were joined together, a hall was built and a
canteen started. Today it is totally broken and waiting for the owner.
Restaurant “Jura”
Located on the main, Liela Street of a city.
Restaurant “Jura” has to do its functions, because city is missing good place
to go out for over-middle income people as well as for rich tourists. It’s some
king of market niche. The city is waiting the owners to fill in it.
Supermarket
“Kurzeme”
It
needs also to do something with broken big central shop in the centre of the
city. In the nearest future Norwegian entrepreneurs will do it and there will
be “Rema” or “Rimi” supermarket.
Other
buildings, which are in bad conditions, and not possible to renew, have to be
pulled down, and these empty squares to be planted trees and shrubs and made
nice in such a way.
Necessary
improvements of streets
Rakstvezu
street
Traditionally
some of the streets in Oldliepaja are covered with cobblestones. In some places
the cobble-stone road is so rough, that one can easily break a leg, if not both
of them. It is near market building and
St. Joseph’s cathedral on Rakstvezu Street. It would be very nice to visit
market or come out of the church after wedding without visiting hospital afterwards.
To avoid of it, is needs to rebuild the road with flat cobblestones, because
breaking a leg is not tourism attraction at all.
Tirgonu (Pedestrian’s) street
Has to be developed more for tourists, as this is the only pedestrian street in a city. It is perfect place for locating tourist shops where you can buy some souvenirs. It is necessary to make souvenirs like T-shirts, pens, notebooks etc. with Liepaja symbolic. The first floor of the building on a Tirgonu street where is situated “Hansabank” is perfect place for Tourism Information Office.
Zivju Street
Going to be made as a pedestrian’s street also
and then it could be attractive for tourists as well.
It
would give better impact for tourists about Liepaja, its cultural activities
and tourism development.
Necessary
improvements of Tourism Information Office
As
tourism information is of great importance of city tourism development, there
has to be right marketing strategy for Tourism Information Office. The current
number of employees is far too small to insure the successful functioning.
Lejaskurzeme
Tourism Information Office needs following action plan:
1.
Restructure
the Tourism Information Office and bring it to the street level in the downtown
centre. (For the present it is planned to bring it to the 1st floor
of hotel “Liva”). It has not to be in a hotel, but in some other placing, for
example, like mentioned in previous. Also it has to be called Liepaja Tourism
Information Office, not Lejaskurzeme, because tourists visiting city can
misunderstand function of this establishment, thinking this is not the right
place to get information about the city. Some foreigners can also do not
understand what it is at all – Lejaskurzeme? There is also establishment called
Liepaja Tourist Bureau, which organises guided excursions in a city. Tourists
can also misunderstand and visit them as Tourism Information Office. There has
to be separate tourism office for Liepaja and Lejaskurzeme (Downkurzeme), and
Liepaja Travel Agency offering excursions and trips.
2.
Prepare the
list of activities necessary for the future development:
-
map and take
an inventory of all the possible places of interest,
-
clean up the
areas potentially open for tourists,
-
ensure the
safety, asses the technical condition and safety of the fortification
structures,
-
asses the
existing channels of information distribution, and needs of additional
informative materials (maps, guides, directories, signposts, traffic schemes
and schedules, www),
-
asses the
financing needs and priorities.
3.
Produce the
relevant and up-to-date tourism information systems and materials, as well as
to work out the detailed marketing plan for Liepaja as a tourism destination.
4.
Work on
developing of the tourist attractions and invest into the new events and
objects.
Necessary
improvements of other tourism facilities and services
Night-clubs
Although
there are several places to go out, it is still the lack of alternatives.
Actually, the best place for the time being is music club “Pablo”. Lot of
visitors is not satisfied with this place and public related. It is one more
market niche in the entertainment life of a city, but still it would take a big
competition with Club “Pablo”.
Restaurants
There
are restaurants in city hotels, but no other way. It has to be restaurant
“Jura” to enter the market functions. City is still waiting for it.
Sports
There
is lot of sports possibilities in a city, but city is still missing high
quality swimming pool in the centre. Those two at the city are not popular and
not tourist oriented. It has to be built new one. As Liepaja is famous in
international level with the ice-hall, why this could not be also swimming to
make know about Liepaja abroad and organise international competitions?
Sightseeing from the tower of St. Joseph’s cathedral
This service is not provided, but it would be very attractive for tourists. Panorama view is being done from the tower of St. Trinity church. These are two highest buildings where it is possible. Maybe it would be exciting also from the roof of Pedagogical Academy, but is not allowed for now.
Water
Attraction Park
Liepaja
is missing not just high quality swimming pool, but also good tourism
attraction could be water Attraction Park. It has to be developed marketing
strategy and involved investigators to realise it.
Veloroads
There
is lack of velo - roads in a city. It has to be developed, because velotourism
is going to be popular. There are projects related to this waiting to realise.
Public safety
There
is criminal situation with crossing the street. Drivers don’t stop before
pedestrian crossings. It has to be changed by strong punishments from police.
Solution of problem could be road reform building “ laying policeman”; it is a
small hill on asphalt. It has to be impact from City Council to improve the
current situation. If city wants to have a tourism as one of development
priorities, it ha to become tourist oriented, it has to guaranty safety for the
guests as well for the locals. There is lack of streetlights apart from the
city centre at night.
It
is also quite big number of crime in a city.
Service
quality level
There
is lack of English or German speaking locals and tourism service oriented
specialists.
As
Tourism Information Office is still not on a right place, it is very low
service, while situation is not changed.
Shop
assistants, bartenders and other service oriented establishment personals
should have better English and German and service skills.
Banks,
currency exchanges medical care, postal etc. establishments have to provide
high quality service and have to be easy accessible.
WC service in a city is under every
critic. There is lack of high quality WC in a city. Also it has to be charge
free in a pubs and cafes, if tourism is priority of city development.
It
is needed to provide service in shops and everywhere paying with the bankcards.
This service is quite bad organised for the present.
At present
City Council Entrepreneur Department is working on service quality level
developing question’s solution.
Tourism education
At present
In Liepaja is missing qualified tourism specialists, guides (especially
speaking foreign languages), cadres for tourism service entrepreneurs. Already
for the second year in Liepaja Academy of Pedagogy are prepared specialists in
Tourism Management program. At present two second year students are studying in
Norway, in Stavanger College, Norwegian Hotel management School (That’s we –
Edgars Rupeiks and Filips Lacars!)
Cinema
There
is a cinema in a city, but it is not in the centre of a city and not in a real
cinema, but in a culture house hall. It has to be moved somewhere to the centre
for easy access by tourists.
Festivals
Music
festivals such as “Liepajas Dzintars” has to be more developed and advertised
internationally. It would be good to start some new music festival tradition in
Liepaja, as it has good potencies as rock capital of Latvia.
Festivals are the
good way of tourist attraction and makes to think about Liepaja as very
”vital”, attractive city. It is still missing adequate infrastructure (tourism
signs, public WC net etc.).
Development of the beach and its Seaside Park
(written by Edgars
Rupeiks)
Liepaja
City is situated on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea and inhabitants of
Liepaja are proud for their seaside, because it is so wide, unspoiled, the ground
is plain without stones and the main important - so high quality sands. We are
sure Liepaja beach is the most beautiful in one of all the Baltic States.
Liepaja coastline stretches along the seashore for about 100 km from the North
of Latvia till the Lithuanian border. Sandy beach golden – white in colour is
sometime up to 70 meter width but near the city it is 15 km long separates the
sea from dunes and is perfect place for walking, rest and sport activities.
Liepaja seaside is very valuable from dendrologisc and cultural aspects that
makes transition stage from seaside dunes till the centre of the city. The
biggest part of dune strip is grown over with willow trees, sea buck – thorn
and other plant species. Liepaja beach and its seaside park has a huge
development possibilities and it is the main destination for visitors in
Liepaja. So, it’s the main strategic point in a sense of tourism destination.
As it already previous mentioned
Liepaja beach is on the eastern coastline of the Baltic Sea which is partly
closed body of water with a surface area of approximately 400,000km(2) and a
catchment of approximately four times size. Water exchange between the Baltic
system and oceanic water is poor, causing introduced contaminants to accumulate
within the Baltic Sea basin. Concerns about the quality of the Baltic Sea
waters have been raised many years with an emphasis on oxygen depletion, algae
growth, heavy metal concentration and the levels of trace organic
contaminants.
During
the years of the Soviet occupation Liepaja seaside was prohibited for people to
come in beach zone because it was considered to be a frontier zone, and only
since 1990 in the evenings Liepaja beach has not been ploughed along for the
borderline.
Liepaja
seaside has always been rich in amber. Every day in the sand among washed
ashore see – weed one can find tiny, shining in the sun, pieces of amber. But
after so - called amber winds blowing mainly in September – October you can be
lucky to find amber pieces as large as a coin. Unfortunately nowadays amber
searching may be spoilt by false amber – pieces of phosphorus left by the
Russian Army, which are so much like amber in colour that is very difficult to
distinguish them from the real amber.
The
tourists is first and foremost looking for a clean, sandy beach that is
comfortable to sunbathe on and safe for swimming, with gentle waves that allow
children to play at the water edge and Liepaja seaside has it all.
Liepaja
beach doesn’t have tides and that’s another positive factor for safe swimming
in the sea. The waves have little power to cause erosion, so safe, sandy beach,
all in all, a perfect tourist environment.
Due to
the decrease of the municipal pollution as well industrial and agricultural
restructionalisation the quality of water in Liepaja remarkably improved during
the last ten years.
Liepaja
seaside future mostly depends of receiving Blue Flags (BF) certificate. BF
certificate provides a tourist beaches and Marinas in accordance with the
Europe standards. Liepaja municipality find the future development exactly with
the local and international tourism development. At the same time tourist
choice in more and more cases lie on high quality beaches and marinas, as well
as high quality services and security level. The first precondition for to get
BF certificate is necessary to have sands cleaner machine. Thanks to the German
Company Liepaja got this equipment. The first testing with this equipment is
made during the summer in 1999 and it has success. As BF certificate assign for
is really important for future of Liepaja as tourism destination, therefore it
will be more detailed. The short term of BF campaign include the following:
· the coastal resource sustainable usage and
development;
· the further understanding about necessity of
integrated coastal zone management;
· the further understanding for coastal
environment importance for its user;
· to further the national policy for the water
quality standards;
· to
further the importance of environment subject integration in local institutions
and their partners decision.
According
to the requirements of the BF campaign, the local municipality in close co –
operation with the local organisations will take the decision to apply for the
BF award. In respect of the beaches, Liepaja municipality will be responsible
for:
·
correspondence of basing water quality to the standard requirements;
·
collection and environmentally friendly handling of waste;
· securing
of beach visitors safety;
·
environmentally friendly management of beaches to avoid deterioration;
·
informing of visitors about environmental protection and safety requirements,
provided services and BF movement;
·
inclusion of environmental concerns into spatial planning;
·
organisation of environmental education and information activities;
·
monitoring of BF beaches, regular informing of National Operator on actual
situation;
· rising
of BF in the awarded beaches.
Introduction
if BF movement should take place on the regional level as well. Mainly it will
be implemented through municipal co – operation. Such co – operation would
involve the coastline municipalities to develop common network of marinas in
Latvia. In addition there should be co – operation with the mass media that
usually inform society about beach cleaning action and actual water quality.
In year
2000 BF were assign to the one of the Latvian cities – Venstpils. Unfortunately
Liepaja received just BF certificate which is lower estimation than Blue Flag.
There are some reasons why Liepaja beach failed:
- there is a lack of security structures. For
example there are no buoys in the sea which shows for swimmers the maximums
distance to swim.
- Liepaja doesn’t have observation tower that
is very important for every tourism-oriented beach. Liepaja beach has one, but
is 100 metres from sea and it is not sufficient European standards. As well
this rescuing station is very old and is in the bad conditions. So, it doesn’t
fulfil its functions. The station is grown into the bushes and therefore it has
bad image from aside.
- The
measurement of water quality doesn’t correspond to Europe standards.
-
There is not sufficient corporation between owners of Seaside area.
-
There are no documents which shows the sustainable development of the
beach and Seaside Park area.
There is
a hope that till the next year major problems for BF receiving will be solved.
Seaside Park area
Due to
sulphur - spring Liepaja has been known
as a water treatment resort since 18th century, however real
flourishing in this area began in the second half of the last century, when the
Russian crown prince Alexander I with some grand dukes as well as the tsar
Nickolay II with his family chose Liepaja as a place for improving their
health. This fact induced many aristocrats to spend summer in Liepaja.
The
parks and green areas of Liepaja City have a special value among the parks in
Latvia. The extensive plantations of Holland linden trees along the streets and
in the green areas from the basis. The Jurmala park is one of the outstanding
parks in Latvia. The development of the
Jurmala Park has started in 1870 by the initiative of Mayor Gotlibs Ulihs. The
design of the park was elaborated by the famous garden architect George Kufalt.
This is the largest man – planted park in Latvia (about 55ha). Various trees
are growing there: more than 20 kinds of lime trees, 23 various maples and
other Latvians trees, as well as bought from abroad beeches, walnuts, cork
oak. During 30ies of this century the Southern
part of the park was reconstructed and vast lawns were developed with
landscaped shrubbery groups and functionally motivated paths. Rows of dunes
initially supposed to protect the city from moving sand, have been transformed
into a park, stretching along the seashore for more then 3 km
In 1902
baths with kursaal and concert garden were built there. After the World War I
baths were reconstructed and renovated, sports grounds and tennis courts were
built. Nowadays the firm “Put vejini” is active in the park administrating the
concert garden, two large city stadiums, tennis courts and amusing side – show.
In the
park there is also a monument to the seamen parishes at sea, a monument to
Latvian poetess Mirdza Kempe and a memorial stone at the site of a meeting on
January 16, 1905. In the southern part of the park there are many medical
institutions. The sanatorium “Liepaja”, which during the Soviet time was trying
to continue resort traditions, is liquidated. And the process of privatisation
is now going on there.
It was a small introduction part,
but now I would like to stress more the use of coastal resources, the problems
and the methods how to solve these problems.
Liepaja beach is an urban
settlement whose focus is a linear feature: the beach and seaside park. There
have been many generalised descriptions of the land use patterns by Barret
(1958), Stansfield and Rickert (1970) and Lavery (1974). According to these
models beach resort are made up of three land use zones.
1.
A specialised beach front zone.
This seafront (trading) zone is known as the Recreational Business District
(RBD). In this stage Liepaja beach and seaside park has different specific
objects:
Stadium “Daugava”
(mostly suitable for
football), but not only.
Training and show stadium
“Dinamo”
where have been taken many shows, competitions and exhibitions. For
example dogs exhibitions, motorbike shows (jumps through fire circles and other
tricks).
Amusement park
At the moment almost doesn’t have any activity because there have
not been almost no improvements from Soviet time and all equipment is
antiquated now. Previously it was a place where many parents with children came
to entertain their children. There were many cafe and other facilities which
now are destroyed, just some of them are survived till nowadays. The object
owned by City Council and is rented. There are some problems with the tenant of
this particular object. May be in the nearest future there will some changes of
tenants, which it is to be hoped will improve the situation.
Concert hall “Put vejini”
It opens in May and closing about the beginning of the September. It
is the most successful entertainment place in Liepaja. Every weekend there are
many concerts and theatres as well other activities. During the summer it the
place where all locals come together and spend their spare time. Visitors and
locals have a great possibility to take part in the biggest rock – music
festival. The festival occurs one time in a year (August) for three days. The
name of the festival is “Amber of Liepaja” which held since 1966 and it has
already the old traditions. In these days Liepaja is full of the people. There
are about 30 000 ticket sold in every festival.
Liepaja tennis courts
These are just the only ones in all Liepaja City. The location is a
few meters from seaside and also from concert hall “Put vejini.” During the
summer there are many competitions and participants comes from all Latvia and
nearest neighbour countries. The number of people in these weeks increase a
lot. As well increase the incomes of private sector and City Council
“Gulbju dikis” (“The Pond of
swans”), (see pictures in supplement)
In the middle of Jurmala park lies beautiful pond with the tower in
the centre of that. Before World War II there were many beautiful swans, which
was the pride of the Seaside Park. Every summer this pond is cleaning up, but
anyway the water is dirty and it’s not putting in order properly. During the
summer in this tower which lies in the middle of pond some concerts are taking
part. Reconstruction of this pond is one of the most important factor in
Liepaja Seaside Park improvements. ”The pond of swans” is like pearl in City’s
scenery and without that would hard to imagine Liepaja green decoration. This
pond is already 60 years old and during this time is destroyed irrigation
system of the pond. The cost of the pond is damaged by the huge fluctuations of
water level and some vandalism. There is plan to make a new waterproof bed and
a new pump and valves system, which provides water circulation and to keep
precise water level during all the year. To implement restoration project is
necessary about 2,3 million Kr, which unfortunately at the moment is too
expensive for Liepaja City Council.
Water nursing house
This building is situated in Jurmala Park. This house has been
opened and started to operate already in 1902. The spaces of the house are
2,090 m2, the volume – 10,620 m3. At the moment it is under reconstruction.
After full completing the water rest centre is envisaged by the plan to resume
former services and to provide with new rest possibilities. (This object will
be more detailed in continue of the project).
Cinema hall
Next to the concert hall “Put
vejini” during the Soviet time there were cinema hall, but now this object is
not fulfil its functions. At the certain moment the building reminds old and
empty barn. It destroys all good composition of the Seaside Park. (This object
will be more detailed in the continue of the project)
Rescuing station near the beach.
There are also available
showers and other facilities. But its lacking of the reunification, because
there have not been improvements since it was built (about 1970ies).
The beach also has some cabins
for clothing and the place for beach volley – ball and also and some
swings.
The toilets which have been improved during the last years.
Restaurant “Banga”. Its open only during the summers and it is really favourite for the
locals as well for the tourists. Around this area there are some other small
shops or kiosk which offer food and drinks.
In the park there are nice green areas which could be used for picnic places for families with some
playgrounds. Why not?
Unfortunately there is no hotel in
this core. Next to the seaside park area are many old houses, which in future
could be as the guest houses. The locals are not sure now of the tourism
development in the particular area, they are afraid to take a risk. The closest
hotel (guest house) is situated 600 m from seaside and in summer months the
demand increasing supply, but in winter season its not easy to get enough
capacity. The seasonallity is quite a big problem for owners of the hotels in
Liepaja as well for all the Latvia.
1.
A commercial core, situated
just behind the RBD, consisting of the usual city centre land uses such as non
– recreational shops, offices and services such as banks, posts, hotels and
currency exchange cabins. And the name of the core is Central Business District
(CBD). This is the nearest urban core. This core as well seaside core is lack
of information signs about certain object or area. There is sufficient road
sign for tourists. Regarding of good co – operation between Liepaja and Kalskrona (Sweden) there
are plans to finance the spreading of the road signs in Liepaja.
If we are speaking in which stage
Liepaja is situated from from Smith stages then it is certainly in the first
one.
Physical impacts:
Of all the factors influencing the
location of tourist activities, the most important are the physical.
In Liepaja arrives few tourists
and 90% are in summer period. Mostly foreigners are coming to visit relatives
(especially these which during the World War II emigrated in abroad). And the
second category of visitors are business people which usually have some bargain
with local businessmen.
Every summer on the streets of
Seaside Park is taking part national street ball competition. During these days
there come many participants and also many spectators from all the Latvia.
Competitions, concerts, exhibitions, shows and other activities are the best
way have to attract the tourist to the particular area which their own places
of residence does not possess. And only then Liepaja beach could be as an extra
offer for free for every visitor.
Liepaja Seaside Park has some facilities, but its not sufficient to satisfy
visitor who may be comes from big distance.
There are very little physical
impacts (pollution) in Liepaja seaside and beach users are major polluters, but
it mostly done by locals. For example destroy the dunes with 4×4 wheel drive. A
little pollution by garbage (bottles, tins and other kind of rubbish), may be
there is not enough garbage – bins. Their litter is not only unsightly but
creates hazards, such as broken glass and tin cans, which can cause injury to
the feet of bathers. There is no signs ask for visitor who helps aware
environment friendly attitude.
Economic impacts:
There is little economic impact in
Liepaja Recreational Business District. Major incomes are during the three
summer months and that’s all. Most of the facilities are owned by City Council
therefore incomes not only directly goes till the pockets of private sector but
also for the municipality.
Social impacts:
Locals of Liepaja feel really
proud if they see that the tourist are coming to the city and respecting it. Of
there are foreigners then service suppliers try to serve the best. Inhabitants
of Liepaja are not used to have many tourists and if some are coming they got
special attention. At the moment there is no considerable impacts and change of
the social structure and social behaviour of the local people. Because there is
no considerable tourism flow to Liepaja.
Imagination about the
future of Liepaja beach and seaside park when all goals and strategies of City
Council are implemented.
At first Liepaja has publicised
much about its city and seaside in media. There are made many new bucklets with
the new objects and time after time with a new innovation. On the streets of
Liepaja City are many signs, which shows the right and straightest way to the
beach. Also there are some bus and microbus lines directly to the seaside area
from many places of city. There is one particular bus line which shows the
place of interests about Liepaja and the main and final destination is seaside
with its activities, concerts and competitions.
Liepaja seaside park and beach
area has a fence with the few entrances. It will help to avoid from soil
erosion, because people try to find and create a new paths during they go till
beach and it’s a damage of soil.
Next to the entrances are kiosks, which gives
an information (including maps) about the Seaside Park and beach. As well many
kind of souvenirs will be available to get. This will be admission entrance
with special discounts for families or some package offers to use all the
activities or maybe just one of them, which will be in this particular area.
These incomes will help to hang up the surroundings and improve the facilities.
As well it will create more work places and will increase incomes for City
Council.
The water nursing house house will
be out of the area because it is totally different object and could be the main
important (see pictures in supplement), because:
· Demand for water rest all
over the year
· At the present time in
the Baltic region nobody offers similar service;
· Historical traditions of
Liepaja water rest
· Water nursing house
operates already from the year 1902
· Mineral water source that
provides with the high quality water procedures;
· Advantageous location –
the Seaside park. 50 m distance from the beach
It will be separate object with
its special offers. There is made a real
plan (by the company Laila – L) that it could have two kinds of services –
former medical treatment and new water possibilities.
Former
medical treatment. The basic medical trend is physical rehabilitation:
· Health: prophylaxis, renewal, keeping (remaining), strengthening;
· Profiles of medical treatment: Neurological, surgical,
traumatically, orthopaedic, morbidity/disturbance of therapeutical character,
disorder of heart blood – vessels system;
· Using medical methods: Water & thermal therapeutical
procedures, mineral water baths, aromatic baths, medical showers, under water
massage, swimming procedures, Therapeutics of medical mud (bath, appliques),
light therapeutics, massages (medical, hygienic), physical therapeutics,
electrical procedures, quinezio therapeutics/medical gymnastics, mechanical
therapeutics.
New water rest services: swimming pool, water attractions, sauna and steam baths, beauty
salon, body building hall.
Water nursing house is having huge
possibilities for development but at the certain moment there is necessary
$5,800,000
Seaside park concert hall is more
wider and more advanced than its now and possible to have 100,000 or even more
audience. There are invited more popular rock groups from all over the world.
Amusement park has been improved
with many new and attractive attractions. Near there are some candy shops and
cafeterias.
Liepaja beach offers for visitors
many kind of water equipment. On the seaside are showers and improved cabins
for changing the clothes. Surrounding is better hung up.
And finally, Liepaja beach and its
Seaside Park is a place to rest and relax from every days routine for the
locals as well for the Liepaja tourists. The service for them should be
priority.
Discussion and conclusion
(written by
Filips Lacars)
In I part of
the project we have discussed tourism possibilities in Liepaja today. Tourism
is just started to develop in Liepaja, because of being “closed city” during
Soviet period till 1991. It is good and bad at once. It is bad, because of
undeveloped tourism infrastructure. And it is very good because of unpolluted
environment, which was not been used for tourism. Seaside coast of Liepaja is
next to wild. Talking about historical centre, there is quite good
architecture. It is heritage needed to preserve. I would say even, Liepaja is
genial place for recreation. Actually you can have all tourism services. Good
four star hotel, good beach, lot of bars and cafes, several nightclubs.
Service
quality is good in tourism related establishments. It needs to have more
foreign languages (English, German) speaking people. Everybody understands
Russian, but not everybody speaks Latvian. It is also almost no service in a
beach. But it is high quality white sand in a beach. Fruits and vegetables in a
market are fresh and good quality and inexpensive, you just have to be sure one
not to cheat you. It is also no camping service. It means to lose lot of
tourists.
Liepaja is a
city of contrasts. It is excellent in this meaning. You can meet present and
past on every corner. Old wooden building next to new brick houses is typical
Liepaja. The centre of city just 500 m from the seaside. It is like to
discovery America again for locals to visit one day seaside and to remember
that it is so close. Walking down the street you sometimes forget about
it. Good adventure is also to look at
Liepaja from the church tower and feel like in Venice. It is Liepaja Lake from
one side and Baltic Sea from the other. Just needs so see some gondola in
water. The centre of city is quite small compare to all territory of a city.
Therefore locals can meet each other quite often on a street. Liepaja
geographically is located along the beach. As the Lake is from the other side,
it is just a few kilometres wide and about twenty kilometres long. Being in
different parts of a city, you can never believe you are in the same city. The
biggest contrast is Karosta. It is being part of Liepaja. But it is hard to say
Liepaja. It’s something different. It is unbelievable to see big Orthodox
Cathedral among ugly Russian blockhouses. It is a miracle. If you like
adventures, you can drive with a car on a mole about half kilometre in a sea.
Just enjoy it!
Liepaja is a
specific city among others in Latvia. It has a “name”, if one can say it. It is
its inhabitants, being proud to be liepajians. It is songs about Liepaja sung
by best musicians from Liepaja. It is the wind, having the cradle in this city.
This liepajianistic image puts the city in a special place, like on a pedestal.
It is worth to come and feel this special charm of Liepaja. If you are coming to Liepaja, you are
welcome!
In II part
we have discussed about beach and urban core development. Liepaja has very good
resources for tourism development. It is not possible to develop them all at
once. We have chosen beach and urban core as most important. There is trend
from representatives of Liepaja to see Karosta as Nr.1 tourism attraction to
develop. There comes out dilemma between our chosen area and City Council ones.
Why we have not chosen Karosta? It is easy and hard to remember. From one side,
as Liepaja has so good and undeveloped beach so close to the city, it would be
simply say just stupid not to use
these recourses. This is where we want to begin the development of tourism in
Liepaja. And it has all potencies for this. We would like to see the Liepaja
beach among those of other tourists visiting every summer. This mission is not
impossible. It needs just do it. Karosta is if great interest of tourists.
Although we have chose beach and urban core development at first, basing on
tourism marketing and geography studies. Our chosen area has to be developed
first because it is not possible to develop everything at once.
Liepaja has
lot of tourism attractions. It is market place where you can buy almost
everything and beach just a few minutes from it. It is architecture, music
festivals and liepajians to experience like exotic jungles in Africa. It is
like being on a Moon walking down the rough cobble-stoned streets of Liepaja.
It is like being in Venice seeing water all around. It is like being in a Rome,
sitting in a centre of a city in an open-air cafe “Rome Garden”. It is like
being back in Soviet times standing among these Russian blockhouses. It is like
being in Florida lying down on a beach. It is like being in a Heaven visiting
one of the beautiful churches, and it is like being in a Hell sitting in a
Prisoner’s House. What else one can wish? You can have an imagination like have
been travelling round the world and even more, just visiting Liepaja.
Liepaja has it all, but it needs just to
work out some marketing strategy to develop it all. Even if there is an
excellent and developed beach and urban core, Liepaja is not able to become a
beloved tourist destination without a carefully weighted, aggressive and
targeted marketing communication strategy. All the available tools of marketing
communication – advertising, sales promotion, public relations, direct
marketing and personal selling – have to be used, including the developing
ones, like Internet. The goal of the marketing program is to create an
integrated marketing communication system with the potential customers. There
are several niche markets, as mentioned in project.
Liepaja beach has a small
competition with other resorts and beaches in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.
The historical centre has a great competition with other cities in Latvia and
other countries. We can win in competition with better quality, better service,
inexpensive prices, as new travel destination, good geographical location and
good tourism attractions.
If the Liepaja City Council and
local public institutions are enough active to promote the Liepaja as tourism
destination, the tourism in Liepaja will have a tremendous future.
In this we
believe.
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