After serious drops in tourist numbers due to the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, the trend is now more positive – one million visitors came last year. This year, the council hopes for a further 20% increase in visitor numbers.
To that end a special program for revitalizing Old Riga is planned, which has been allocated one million euros. It is planned to improve Doma Square, Town Hall Square, Reformation Square and Valņu Street. Various environmental installation objects such as benches will be installed there, so that residents have the opportunity to sit down somewhere without having to buy a drink from a cafe.
Also, a program has been developed to improve the appearance of shop windows, which is currently not funded. Lange said that the municipality could also support the repair of premises and a one-time rent compensation payment under the program in order to attract small businesses to vacant sites in Old Riga.
