SUNNY  SEASIDES

Our city is one of the sunniest towns in Poland, with mild and humid climate. Strong regular winds create excellent conditions for windsurfing and other water sports. Average annual temperature equals 8.6°C, average temperature in July is 17.2°C, average temperature in January is -0,9°C. The tourist season here lasts the whole year.
It is the location of Gdynia that makes practising lots of forms of active recreation and tourism possible. Skiing down the moraine hills in winter, water sports, cycling and hiking in other seasons are good examples here. Five beaches covering 15 kilometres of the sea "border" belong to Gdynia. Thanks to the efforts taken by the city authorities, those beaches have been opened to amateurs of sea and sun baths after a long break. They are supervised by Voluntary Water Life Guard. Again, at the end of this season, no accident of getting drowned 

was noted down. Tourists come here because of the beaches whose attractive location near the centre of the City, car parks and good access roads invite people, infrastructure (lots of cafes, pubs, discos and places one can hire sport or beach equipment), attractions (performances of the Municipal Theatre actors on the beach in Gdynia Orlowo) and tidiness.
Gdynia is a port city with ferry connections to Karlskrona having at its disposal places to moor for trade, travel and war ships from around the world. 300 ferries carrying almost 14 thousand passengers called at our port this year and 70 tourist ships with 30 thousand people on board visited Gdynia.

Gdynia is located on the intersection of transit roads in the north- south and east- west directions which means it is a wonderful starting point for visiting the "Kashubian Switzerland". As far lodging, there are over 2000 beds in the City. In this season, over 500 thousand tourists from the country and abroad visited Gdynia.
Our goal is to decrease the impact of tourism on natural environment. Practically we undertake tasks aiming at the protection of recreation values along seaside and in forests which means we clean beaches and forests, create new ones and manage already existing recreation areas and parks. Gdynia protects monuments of sea culture such as the Oceanographic Museum, Sea Aquarium, Museums- Warships and yachting harbours.It organises sea oriented events such as Sea Days celebrated each year in June or Nuptials with the Sea and also other international happenings.In 1974 and 1992, for instance, we hosted the Cutty Sark Tall Ships' Races.
Gdynia aspires to become one of the significant Baltic sailing centres, treated as its municipal priority. Sailing in Gdynia is developing fast both in the form of recreation and record- seeking sport. Eight sailing clubs are currently active in the City.Their seats are situated around the General Mariusz Zaruski Sailing Pool (over 100 harbouring places).Clubs gather about 1200 fans and have at their disposal over 130 sailing units.

UNITED POTENTIALS

Liepāja unites industrial potential, advantages of an ice- free port, human intellectual potential and rich cultural heritage. Within the recent years, the city has become more appealing; several new and significant public buildings have been built; the self- confidence of  

the community has risen - people have regained the belief in their strength and the future of the city. Liepāja is a novelty for international tourism. Not so long ago the beaches of Liepāja region were the western borders of "the iron curtain" - for 50 years it had been the territory used by Soviet military.Only in 1994 Liepāja regained possibilities to use its potential. Hence it has had to be discovered as new - as a port, a business partner, a culture centre and also 

as a tourism destination.Liepāja welcomes guests with a number of cafes, restaurants and hotels.For active recreation, there are recently built sports facilities.
Liepāja is a home to several annual festivals and a venue for events becoming the new traditions of the city - rock music festival "Amber of Liepāja", International Piano Star Festival, Feast of Tourism, Kurzeme Rally, Sea Festival, Flower Festival. Exciting experience can be sought also just outside Liepāja - relaxation in a country home, horse riding, and offshore fishing, real Latvian sauna. The variety of landscape in the countryside and their changing beauty throughout the seasons give endless possibilities to enjoy nature.
Though only a few years have passed, a lot of things have been accomplished. There are several projects with PHARE financing: ecotourism project "Amber Path", project in cooperation with Polish partners from Gdynia for small yacht harbours, a training program for guides , etc. A project idea for future is restoration of the ancient Viking settlement at Grobina (10 km from Liepāja) which might develop into an interesting tourism site.