Strategy and Action Plan for Sustainable Tourism in Kemeri National Park Jūrmala, 2011 Part-fianced by the European Union (European Regional Development Fund) 0 1 Contents Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................. 5 Summary ....................................................................................................................................................................... 6 1 Tourism policy and planning ...................................................................................................................................... 8 1.1 Tourism policy in Latvia ....................................................................................................................................... 8 1.2 Tourism planning documents in ĶNP .................................................................................................................. 8 2. Defining the region of the strategy ........................................................................................................................... 9 3. Description and analyisis of existing situation ...................................................................................................... 10 3.1 Nature values .................................................................................................................................................... 10 3.1.1 Seashore ..................................................................................................................................................... 10 3.1.2 Lakes ........................................................................................................................................................... 15 3.1.3 Rivers .......................................................................................................................................................... 23 3.1.4 Marshes ...................................................................................................................................................... 26 3.1.5 Forests ........................................................................................................................................................ 32 3.1.6 Meadows .................................................................................................................................................... 34 3.1.7 Plants .......................................................................................................................................................... 36 3.1.8 Lichen, Moss and Ferns .............................................................................................................................. 36 3.1.9 Mushrooms ................................................................................................................................................ 37 3.1.10 Mammals .................................................................................................................................................. 37 3.1.11 Birds ......................................................................................................................................................... 39 3.1.12 Reptiles ..................................................................................................................................................... 39 3.1.13 Amphibians .............................................................................................................................................. 40 3.1.14 Insects and Other Invertebrates .............................................................................................................. 40 3.1.15 Geological Values ..................................................................................................................................... 40 3.1.16 Unused Tourism Potential of Nature Values ............................................................................................ 41 3.2 Cultural History Values ...................................................................................................................................... 43 3.2.1 Seaside Villages .......................................................................................................................................... 43 3.2.2 Ķemeri and Jaunķemeri .............................................................................................................................. 47 3.2.3 Rural Districts ............................................................................................................................................. 50 2 3.2.4 Evaluation of Culture Values Tourism Potential ........................................................................................ 55 3.2.5 Unexplored Topics ..................................................................................................................................... 59 3.3 Landscapes ........................................................................................................................................................ 59 3.4 Healing resources .............................................................................................................................................. 60 3.5. Preservation of the environment and sustainable use of resources ............................................................... 61 3.6 Socioeconomic Analysis .................................................................................................................................... 61 3.6.1 The Economic and Social Situation in the Region of ĶNP .......................................................................... 61 3.6.2 Importance of the Tourism Sector in Regional Economy .......................................................................... 62 3.7 Wellbeing of Local Population .......................................................................................................................... 64 3.7.1 Availability of Services ................................................................................................................................ 64 3.7.2 Education ................................................................................................................................................... 65 3.7.3 Lifelong education and informal education ............................................................................................... 66 3.7.4 Non-Governmental Organizations .......................................................................................................... 66 3.7.5 Local Population and Tourism .................................................................................................................... 67 3.8 Tourism ............................................................................................................................................................ 68 3.8.1 Tourism History of the Territory ................................................................................................................ 68 3.8.2 The Present Tourism Offer, Services and Products .................................................................................... 68 3.8.3 Concept of activity centres ........................................................................................................................ 73 3.8.4 Tourism zoning ........................................................................................................................................... 73 3.8.5 Information and Marketing ........................................................................................................................ 74 3.8.6. Visitors of Kemeri NP ................................................................................................................................ 76 3.8.7 Creating tourism products ......................................................................................................................... 98 3.8.8 Constant improvement of the quality of tourism offer ........................................................................... 107 3.8.9 Cooperation among tourism stakeholders .............................................................................................. 108 3.9 Visitor Management ....................................................................................................................................... 108 3.9.1 Visitor flows .............................................................................................................................................. 108 3.9.2 Visitor monitoring .................................................................................................................................... 109 3.9.3. Plan for the management of visitor flows and impacts .......................................................................... 110 3.10 Environment Education and Interpretation .................................................................................................. 112 3.10.1 Nature Education ................................................................................................................................... 112 3.10.2 Information Materials ...........................................................................................................................