Translated using ChatGPT service.
On Thursday, October 24, the supervisory committee for the 2024 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) round gathered at the Ministry of Economics to discuss key takeaways and the results of the WRC Latvian round. The meeting was chaired by Minister of Economics, Viktors Valainis.
Tet Rally Latvia Director Raimonds Strokšs presented the main results of the Latvian stage of the championship, including event attendance, regional engagement, and the economic impact generated by international visitors. Information provided by event organizers indicates that over the four rally days, more than 100,000 spectators attended in person. The Latvian WRC round brought an economic benefit of over 24 million euros to the region and contributed 2.6 million euros in tax revenue from VAT and fuel excise on foreign visitors and participants.
Minister of Economics Viktors Valainis commended the professionalism of the championship organizers, as well as the uniqueness and scale of the event in Latvia. During the meeting, he noted that such large-scale events should become regular occurrences in Latvia, as they not only promote Latvia’s name globally but also significantly benefit the national economy and regional development.
The minister stressed the importance of actively finding the best support solutions during future planning processes to ensure that new large-scale events come to Latvia, while also encouraging the recurrence of major events. He also urged stakeholders to proactively initiate discussions with WRC Promoter representatives to ensure that Latvia is chosen again as a host for the WRC World Rally Championship round in 2027.
As previously reported, on January 21, the Cabinet of Ministers approved a Ministry of Economics report on implementing a state support program for large-scale international events, or “mega-events.” A mega-event is defined as an international-scale event held in Latvia, organized, delegated, or partnered by a global or European organization, widely covered in media, and having a substantial impact on Latvia’s economy, international visibility, and competitiveness. The event should attract at least 10,000 overnight stays from foreign visitors and participants in Latvian tourist accommodations and last for a minimum of two days. On January 21, the government also decided to support the organization of two mega-events—the World Rally Championship round in 2024 and the European Basketball Championship final tournament for men in 2025.