The municipality of Jūrmala wants to increase the entrance fee and apply it throughout the year in the future, according to the city’s council.
The draft of binding regulations on the entry of vehicles into the special regime zone in the administrative territory of the city of Jūrmala has been handed over for public discussion.
The draft preserves the currently determined fee administration procedure but the most significant changes are related to determining the period of application of the fee throughout the year, as well as changes in the fee amount for one day – it would be changed from the current two euros to three euros.
Entry is free for declared residents of Jūrmala and those who own real estate in Jūrmala.
The entry fee in the territory of the city of Jūrmala has been valid since 1996. From the autumn of 2013, the toll was canceled in the fall and winter periods. Parking in Jurmala is free all year round, except for private parking lots.
From 1996, the fee for a single entry was one lats, from 2014 – two euros. The amount of the fee has not changed since 2014, although the cost of maintaining the tourism infrastructure has increased significantly in recent years.
The amount of toll in Jūrmala is significantly lower than in other seaside cities and administrative territories,
the municipal council explained.
For example, in Rīga, parking fees are up to five euros per hour. In the Estonian resort town of Pärnu, parking in the beach area during the summer season is 12 euros per day or 4 euros per hour, in the center – 5 euros per day or 1 euro per hour, while in Lithuania, entry into the territory of the Curonian Spit is 30 euros for a car.
The funds collected from the toll payment are listed in the city’s budget, and are used to create an environment for tourism and resort development, environmental protection, and protection of cultural monuments, as well as ensuring public order and security.
The municipal council informed that in 2022 the revenue from the entry fee was 2.9 million euros.
The draft regulation can be found on jurmala.lv, in the Draft binding regulations section. Local residents can express opinions until the 15th of June.