Important notice about changes

On July 1, 2018, the Directive (EC) 2015/2302 of the European Parliament and of the Council of November 25, 2015 on package travel and linked travel arrangements comes into effect, which is transposed into the national legislation of the Republic of Latvia.

Summary of changes

The new directive regulates not only package travel arrangements, as before, but also linked travel arrangements, in respect of which it is necessary to provide protection in case of default in the form of a bank guarantee or insurance. In addition, the rights of travellers have been clarified and expanded. More information on key rights under Directive (EU) 2015/2302 in relation to package travel arrangements.

Services offered by the Agency

The agency on the web sites offers package travel arrangements and individual travel services. The agency does not provide linked travel arrangements. A notice on the nature of the services provided can be found in the description of each product in the "Information" section.

The tour operators listed in the "Information" section of the product descriptions are responsible for the organization and provision of protection for the proposed package travel arrangement in accordance with the requirements of Directive (EU) 2015/2302.

Individual travel services offered and their combinations are outside the scope of Directive (EU) 2015/2302 and do not provide any protection under Directive (EU) 2015/2302. In this case, the indicated price of more than one service is indicative (may not be up-to-date), is not binding and is displayed solely for your convenience, to allow you better plan your trip budget. Please note that in case of individual services, booking of each subsequent service with the intermediate of the Agency is possible not earlier than 24 hours from the time of the previous booking.

Further, the displayed information corresponds to the previous legislative requirements and will be updated in the near future.

Language notice

Please be aware that the package tours service is provided in Russian and / or Latvian language and the contract with Operator is concluded mostly in Latvian language with some possibilities to use the Russian language.

We strongly recommend you not to use the services provided on this web-site online, unless it is directly expressed, if you are not sure to be able to understand all the information which would be essential before and during the journey in Latvian or Russian according to the requirements of the Operator and the Agency.

If you continue booking anyway, that means you confirm that you understand all the terms and conditions and information provided regardless of the language, which is used to provide this information on this website and in other relevant way. The Agency and the Operator assumes no responsibility in respect of the circumstances mentioned above.

Tour programmes in English

The English versions of the tour programs, unless it is directly expressed, are shortened versions (summary), which are presented for acquaintance purposes only and has no any legal value. The full version of the program is available in Latvian or Russian language.

What regulations govern the provision of tourism services in Latvia?

The provision of tourism services in the Republic of Latvia govern the Tourism Law and the Cabinet of Ministers' Regulations No. 353 "Regulations Regarding the Rights and Duties of Tourism Operators, Tourism Agents and Clients, the Procedures for the Preparation and Implementation of a Package Tourism Service, the Information to be Provided to a Client and the Procedures for Deposition of Security Guarantee of Money".

The Law includes legal norms, which arise from Council Directive 90/314/EEC of 13 June 1990 on package travel, package holidays and package tours.

Whether the requirements of Latvian legislation apply to all tourism services?

No, the requirements of the Tourism Law and the Cabinet of Ministers' Regulations No. 353 apply to the package tourism services only.

Package tourism service is a combination of tourism services prepared previously or upon request of a consumer and and includes at least two of the following tourism services – transport, accommodation or a tourism service other than transport or accommodation auxiliary service and which covers proportionally the largest part of the combination of the tourism services.

What is the difference between the travel agent and tour operator?

Tour operator organizes and implements the provision of the services, sells them to the customers directly or through travel agents. Travel agent does not organize tours, but rather sells to the customers tours, which are developed by the tour operators. Most of the tour operators are both the operator (organizes and sells it's own tours) and the agent (sells to the customers the tours developed by other tour operators). 

SIA "De Mare Ad Mare Baltic" (limited company) is a travel agent. The advantage of a travel agent for the customer is that agents in most cases, act in the interests of customers, helping to find and select the most relevant tour from the large number of proposals.

Is it necessary to have a special permission for the tour operator's and tour agent's activity in Latvia?

No, there is no requirement to have special persmission or licence, but all tourism agents and tourism operators shall be registered in the database of tourism agents and tourism operators. The database is a State information system, which is developed and maintained and registration ensured by the Ministry of Economics  

SIA "De Mare Ad Mare Baltic" has the database registration number TATO-2015-57. The database registration number must be specified in the contracts, which the operator or agent enters into with customers. 

What are the tour operators SIA "De Mare Ad Mare Baltic" cooperates with?

The list of the tour operator, whose services is provided by SIA "De Mare Ad Mare Baltic" is available in the TATO - travel agents and tour operators database, as well as the tour operator's logo is presented in each product offer.

Do I have any form of the guarantee in case of the financial difficulties or insolvency of tour operators?

Yes, but only in respect of package tourism services. Since the activities of tour operators involve risks that may cause financial difficulties or insolvency, the Tourism Law provides that:

• It is mandatory indispensable for the tour operator who organizes package tourism services to have a security guarantee for the money deposited by consumers; 
• A travel agent may offer or sell only such package tourism service, which is ensured with the security guarantee of money deposited by consumers.

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If a tour operator until proclamation of his or her insolvency proceedings or in cases of his or her insolvency cannot or partially cannot fulfil contractual liabilities to the consumer, the security guarantee of money deposited by consumers shall ensure:

• compensation to the consumer of losses resulting from the non-fulfilment or partial fulfilment of obligations; and
• the return of the tourist to the country from which the tour began, if the contract does not specify otherwise

The security guarantee for the money deposited by consumers shall be insurance or a bank guarantee.

You can to the database of tourism agents and tourism operators to check, whether there is the security guarantee for the money deposited by consumers.  

The Cabinet of Ministers' Regulations No. 353 provides that an integral part of a contract shall be information regarding the procedures for repayment of the security guarantee of money deposited by a client, as well as delivering of the client to the country where the journey began (if another country has not been indicated in the contract), if prior to the declaration of the insolvency proceedings the tourism operator cannot completely or partially fulfil the contractual obligations to the client or the fulfilment of the programme of services indicated in the contract is not possible due to the insolvency of the tourism operator.

Does SIA "De Mare Ad Mare Baltic" requires to provide a security guarantee for the money deposited by consumers?

No, the legislation of the Republic of Latvia does not impose such requirements to the travel agents. The business model of a travel agent does not imply for the risks that affect tour operators. If the tour is canceled for the guilt of the travel agent, this rather relates to dishonest actions. Travel agent, who intends to work for the long term, will take care of his reputation, which is hardly recoverable in case of the fault. 

Does SIA "De Mare Ad Mare Baltic" have a permanent office?

No, the Agency does not intend to open the office for the customer service in the nearest future. The provision of services and support to customers is carried out online at the website www.demareadmare.lv or www.demareadmare.eu, by phone and email. If necessary, the departure to the customers in Riga, Jurmala, Jelgava, Tukums is possible for the additional charge.