«We no longer have a passenger port»: the absence of ferry services in Riga has been called a disaster 0 30

“A ferry is a must. It should be one of the priorities. The fact that Riga, as a port city, has no ferry services is a disaster,” emphasized Dainis Locis.

The same position is held by the president of the Latvian Restaurant Association, the general director of the Opera Hotel, and a lecturer at the University of Latvia in Bioeconomics and Technology, Janis Enzis. He reminded that Riga lost the company Tallink, which previously provided regular connections to Scandinavia, and this dealt a serious blow to tourism. “The fact that we lost Tallink is a disaster for tourism. We can rejoice in cruise liners, but that’s not the same. Passengers on these ships sleep and eat on board, at most they buy some groceries, have a beer, and return. They leave almost no money in the city,” noted Enzis.

He recalled that in 2020, during the pandemic, Tallink launched an experimental Helsinki–Riga route, which became a successful example of cooperation. Although Latvians hardly traveled then, this route was very popular among Finns: there were entertainment on board, attractive prices, and the opportunity to spend a weekend in Riga. “It was a real success. Finns enjoyed sailing, and many stayed in Riga for a day or two. Now I understand — we no longer have a passenger port in Riga,” Enzis added regretfully.

He urged the Riga authorities not to ignore the issue and to seek ways to restore ferry services, which, according to him, could become an important stimulus for the development of tourism and the urban economy.

The main problem, according to the discussion participants, is that Riga, despite its status as a port city, has effectively lost maritime connections with neighboring countries. The absence of ferries, unlike cruise ships, deprives the city of a constant flow of tourists who could spend money in hotels, restaurants, and shops. Experts are convinced that the return of regular ferry lines is a necessary condition for revitalizing the tourism and business activity of the capital.