Tourism as a tool of sustainable regional development and the importance of clusters in Latvia: The example of Sigulda and Ventspils

Abstract

The goal of this research is to evaluate the role of tourism in sustainable regional development in Latvia. The authors have focused on the identification and mapping of spatial structures in Latvia, choosing the most popular tourist destinations Sigulda and Ventspils cities as textbook examples of such territories. The concept of clusters has been chosen as the most appropriate theory for tourism as a tool of urban development and evaluating the spatial structure of tourism. The result of the research was the identification of a tourism cluster and mapped city influence zone in Sigulda and Ventspils, where spatial processes have developed differently. This research has not only confirmed the advantage of a cluster - the ability to attract new business innovations despite the existing competition in the area - but it has also showed the different character of urban development and integration with surrounding counties in accordance with sustainability principles. © 2009 WIT Press.