https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/28546 Thu, 09 Apr 2026 22:00:01 GMT 2026-04-09T22:00:01Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/30484 Title: Tourism enterprise cooperation specifics : comparative study of Riga and Novosibirsk travel agencies Authors: Berzina, Kristine; Medne, Ilze; Tsoy, Marina Abstract: Enterprise cooperation has been analysed from many aspects – global competition, new innovations in technology advancements, tendencies of direct sales in tourism, increase of tourist experience; these are the main driving forces that are pushing traditional travel agencies out of the market and transforming the tourism intermediates into new open business model. Cooperation and networking creates ability to achieve goals that an enterprise is not capable of achieving on its own, thus giving rise to a new phenomenon referred to as collaborative advantage. Networking and collaboration in the tourism sector has gained importance particularly since these networks promote the spread of information and strengthens the connections between heterogeneous sectors of tourism industry, private and public companies, international partners, contribute to more sustainable tourism development that has greater actuality this year as the United Nations General Assembly announced 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development. Research is based on qualitative research method of 5 case studies from each of two destinations Riga and Novosibirsk; using semi-structured interviews with company managers that allows interaction with each study object and gives advantage of collecting more detailed information, analysing motivation for involvement in cooperation. Article aims to investigate if there are cooperation peculiarities for the different types of travel agencies and tour-operator enterprises. Cooperation factors for analyses include cooperation importance, objectives, motives, trust, coordination, networking coverage, frequency and other important indications. Despite the fact that all examined tourism enterprises are involved in cooperation activities, in conclusion the study indicates the differences in cooperation habits, advantages and disadvantages of these studied tourism enterprises. Sun, 01 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/30484 2017-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/30483 Title: Assessing the role of Latvia’s participation in Indo-EU value chains Authors: Garde, Vasudha; Karnups, Viesturs Pauls Abstract: The global trade scenario is fast changing with complexities involving multi-nationals and value chains. Likewise, EU Member States trade has been more intra-EU than extra-EU; however, the Member States have now started looking at extra-EU trade partners. A study of assessment of Latvia's trade potential with EU Member States shows that it has reached high levels of trade with its neighbouring countries and needs to look beyond its present trade partners. Utilising basic gravity theory this article tries to explain the possibility of creation of trade by Latvia as a Member State of the EU, with special focus on the participation of Latvia in Indo-EU Value Chains ( Indo -EUVCs) and the possible role Latvia can play in future. Sun, 01 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/30483 2017-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/30481 Title: Evaluation of Latvia-China trade potential Authors: Priede, Janis; Feng, Haidong Abstract: International trade always has been a source of wealth for countries engaged in the process. Lately, European Union (EU) and Latvia is facing new challenges in for of trade restrictions and protectionism with the trade partners. One of the latest cases of Russian asymmetric sanctions in the form of food trade embargo left EU with difficult task of trade redirection and more intense local market competition. With the UK leaving EU case on the horizon all EU countries are facing the same problem – where to find new markets with high demand potential. The largest EU economies, Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Netherlands have already expanded their trade all over the world to diversify the risk of being too much dependant on several trade partners. This is also the case for Latvia – there is necessity to find new potential markets. The aim of the research is to evaluate Latvia - China trade potential in terms of Latvia’s export opportunities. Methods used in the research: Study of the literature on the export market evaluation and trade data analysis. Research involves usage of potential export market evaluation with Decision Support Model. Research is very topical in context of Latvia’s necessity of market diversification since Russia has food trade embargo (since August 7, 2014) and it is unclear future about trade regulations with the UK with the process of UK leaving European Union (BREXIT). Sun, 01 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/30481 2017-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/30480 Title: Productivity and its impact on the competitiveness of Latvia Authors: Skapars, Roberts; Jekabsone, Sandra; Priede, Janis; Skribane, Irina Abstract: Productivity is the main key factor for Latvia to increased prosperity, ensuring efficient use of resources. Due to limited availability of resources and the increasing competition in the global markets, it is important for Latvia to support its economic growth through increased productivity. Since 2010 the productivity of Latvia’s economy has been at the level of 40-45% of the EU average (Eurostat Database, 2017). A further increase in labour costs is inevitable in the open labour market conditions, therefore, strengthening the competitiveness of Latvian is largely determined by the ability to reduce the productivity gap with the advanced economies. One of the main challenges for Latvia is the creation of new competitive advantages that are associated with investments in the latest technologies, innovation, research, human capital, efficient allocation of resources and redistribution that comes with the behavioural changes of economic subjects. Economic structural transformation process is largely dependent on the quality of the institutional framework, which provides goods and resources market efficiency, minimizing the redistribution process costs and risks, thereby strengthening the country's competitive benefits. The aim of the research is to assess the potential for productivity growth to improve competitiveness of Latvia to identify the main obstacles that limit the attraction of resources and redistribution of higher value-added products and prepare recommendations for policies on the micro, sectoral and macro level. Research has high practical value that is related to OECD recommendation to monitor productivity in Latvia. Sun, 01 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/30480 2017-01-01T00:00:00Z