Liepāja becomes hiker-friendly

Together with other regions in the Baltic countries that seek to promote this form of tourism

Earlier this week, the Latvian municipality of Liepāja reported that tourism service establishments located on its territory have started receiving the ‘Hiker-friendly’ label. This is a way of indicating that these types of tourists can enjoy all the benefits of a well-thought-out organization of service providers that are there to meet their particular needs.

The town lies on the E9 European long-distance walking trail

At the end of May 2021, the third Hiker Friendly Commission meeting took place in Latvia. It was decided to award the label to 53 companies that met the criteria, of which 20 companies are based in Kurzeme, including Liepāja and nearby counties. Among them are:

• Liepāja Region Tourism Information Bureau, Liepāja
• "Liepu" hostel, Liepaja
• Guest house "Lake house", Liepaja
• "BB camping", Liepaja
• Embute Tourism Information Center, Vaiņode district
• Kazdanga tourism information point, Aizpute region

Featuring the label on an establishment’s premises means that the entrepreneur offers essential and necessary services that are in demand by hikers. These can be route information, drinking water, early breakfast, takeaway lunch, charging of electrical appliances, the possibility to dry wet and wash dirty clothes, boots and other such important services for walkers. 

The label is available to accommodation, catering and tourist information service providers who wish to offer the necessary services to this type of tourists. In Latvia, the decision to award a label is made by a special commission, composed of 13 members - both state institutions and organizations that support walking, active recreation and nature tourism.

Although Liepāja is located on the E-9 long-distance trail, also known as the Baltic Coastal Trail, the ‘Hiker-friendly’ sign itself is not linked to any specific routes. It serves as a way to service providers to market themselves to a particular tourist public and show that they understand and can meet their needs.