Portugal extends tourist season to a year and a half — Liepāja residents watch with envy

While here in Liepāja we start getting annoyed with tourists after a week at the seaside, asking where Riga is as they walk down Pētera Street, Portugal has decided to go in the opposite direction. The government announced that 60 days isn't enough for people to fully enjoy the country's beauty, so they're extending the stay period to 18 months.

"There must be consequences for illegality, and that means deportation and faster deportation," explains a government representative, but Liepāja residents have already figured out what he really means: "If you've already come, then stay longer and spend more money on tourism." Our experienced guide Astrīda comments: "In Portugal people are kept for 18 months, but here tourists flee after three days in summer because they don't understand why Lake Liepāja is so quiet compared to the sea."

Riga politicians have already urged adopting this experience and extending the Daugavgrīva Street renovation period to a year and a half, so tourists can fully appreciate the art of construction work. Meanwhile, Liepāja City Council is discussing whether they should introduce a similar system in Karosta — so visitors could spend 18 months studying how to properly pronounce "Karosta" and why our tram runs faster than their train.

Portugal's experience proves that sometimes a longer stay can be better than faster deportation. As Maija, owner of our Grobiņa Street café, says: "If the Portuguese can keep people for 18 months, then we could keep tourists for at least a week — maybe finally someone would buy our souvenirs that say 'I was in Liepāja and survived'."