Promotion and recreation opportunities

by Ms Ilze Borovska

Gradually Jurmala becomes a city of culture at the European level. The number of cultural events, scale on which they are carried out, as well as constant growth of visitors are the evidence for it.

In 2000 - 2006 the amount of culture events has significantly increased - concerts of European artists, different international festivals and projects took-place in Jurmala. Such development has been reached because of significant investments in development of culture objects. Also, the city budget for development of culture infrastructure and for organising culture events increases every year. The biggest investments during last years have been assigned to renovation of Jurmala City Museum (700,000 LVL), renovation of Dzintari Concert Hall (1,500,000 LVL), as well as to reconstruction of culture houses and libraries. This year a central house of Jurmala Open-air Museum was also renovated.

Traditionally, almost all biggest culture and recreation events take place in the summer time. To decrease the seasonality of entertainment and recreation branches in Jurmala, propitious environment will be created to ensure opportunities for culture, entertainment and recreation in autumn and winter. A small indoor hall of Dzintari Concert Hall will be reconstructed within the next 3 years. It will allow organising big culture events, and as a result it will increase the number of tourists and guests in Jurmala in cold seasons.

A new culture house and a new arts and music school will be built. This school will be not only a place for studying, but also a place for carrying out different events.

Another opportunity for development of entertainment and recreation is promotion of big entertainment complexes in Jurmala. In 2007 - 2020, it is necessary to promote private entrepreneurs in all districts of city that could offer high quality entertainment centres (cinemas, clubs, shopping centres, active recreation, restaurant services), as it will increase living standards of Jurmala's inhabitants, as well as create new jobs. In the future, big tourism objects like aqua-park "Livu" will gain in importance.