AGP Executive Report
Last update: 5 hours agoLatvia Military Service: The Cabinet approved draft changes to Latvia’s compulsory State Defence Service (VAD), aiming to streamline selection, improve legal equality and social guarantees, and introduce a new option to pre-register/volunteer for 17-year-olds who turn 18 within six months. Riga & Tourism Costs: Estonia’s debate over a tourist tax is heating up, with Pärnu and local authorities backing it while Tallinn worries it could hurt tourism—an issue that will be watched across the Baltics. Border Controls Watch: Lithuania’s incoming interior minister says temporary border checks with Latvia are on the table as migrant flows rise, calling it a “nuclear option” if needed. Travel Planning for Latvians: A new airBaltic route is boosting summer connectivity, with Aberdeen adding a direct service to Riga and expecting about 269,000 departing passengers. On the Ground Security: NATO’s eastern flank is bracing for Russia’s “next phase” of hybrid warfare, from drones to cyberattacks—raising the stakes for the region’s travel and safety outlook. Summer Travel Reality Check: On Latvia’s Vidzeme coast, free A1 highway parking near beaches are drawing visitors, but locals report overflowing bins and too few toilets. Denali Repatriation: Latvia is preparing to bring home three climbers who died on Alaska’s Denali and to return the injured survivor, with fundraising already topping €112,000.
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