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2006-11-02
Lithuanian travel companies are still young players in tourist industry, but tourism growth here is obviously gaining speed. Thanks to favourable political and economic conditions which have been created during the last 15 years, Lithuania now has almost unlimited opportunities for its tourism development and promotion. Lithuanian tourist companies are becoming more specialised and start penetrating foreign markets. First of all, Lithuanian infrastructure has undergone sweeping transformations during the last two decades. Until the breakdown of the Soviet Union, Lithuania was annexed by Stalin after the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact. In 1991, Lithuania regained freedom, set up its national currency, renewed relations with Scandinavia and Central Europe, and soon became a member of NATO and the EU. During these years, Lithuania’s social, political, and economic profile has changed a lot. The formerly demoralised, suppressed communist society is now enjoying dynamic, market oriented economy where living standards are hastily increasing. In 2003, Lithuania became a member of WTO. Tourist companies take part in international tourism exhibitions; the Lithuanian Tourism Department pursues new tourism marketing projects aimed at making Lithuania an attractive destination for travellers and holiday-makers. Conference tourism is also expanding; Lithuanian tourism centres are founded abroad, and online tourist information sites are created. The favourable conditions for travel sector expansion as well as building and developing relations with foreign countries in culture, politics, business, science and other spheres have allowed for significant improvements in the Lithuanian economy and the possibility to present the best of the country to the world. Striving to make their clients’ stay in Lithuania a unique and pleasant experience, travel companies offer an ever greater variety of leisure services, look for unfilled tourist market niches, and specialise on the basis of their target audiences and services provided. Little by little, travel companies enter foreign markets including neighbourin g and Eastern European countries, as well as Western Europe. The UK tourism market is not an exception. Incoming tourism from Great Britain is increasing. As the latest figures of Lithuanian Department of Statistics show, the number of tourists from Great Britain in 2004 rose by 19.8% compared with the proceeding year, and in 2005, it increased by 8.2%. Specialising in corporate entertainment while orienting towards (though not limiting to) the British audience is a new trend in the Lithuanian tourism sector. Of course, Great Britain boasts a number of domestic corporate entertainment and similar companies such team building and corporate event organisers; but Lithuanian corporate entertainment companies offer travel at the same time and, referring to their direct knowledge of Lithuania, can present a wider assortment of leisure services available. Moreover, only a few corporate entertainment companies in Great Britain organise company entertainment breaks in Lithuania. For corporate entertainment involving team building events, corporate celebrations, or simply short holidays, Lithuania offers a variety of destinations ranging from beautiful and dynamic cities to idyllic countryside homesteads, and a choice of leisure activities which can take place wherever possible (well, maybe except for underground). Thus Lithuanian travel companies engaged in planning corporate entertainment for British tourists in Lithuania can well complement the UK market.
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