This year marks the 18th anniversary since Latvia successfully introduced the “Green Certificate” — an eco-certification or environmental quality mark of national scale for rural tourism accommodation. Latvian Country Tourism Association “Lauku ceļotājs” initiated this label with the support of the LVAF in 1999, and commenced introduction thereof with the support of the EU LIFE programme in 2000. Initially, mere 12 farms noticed marketing potential or ideological support for their green principles in this novelty and could meet the strict criteria, developed according to experience of several European countries and approved by local environment specialists. This year, 73 rural tourism entrepreneurs became holders of the “Green Certificate”.
At the end of the last November, when celebrating the 15th anniversary of the LIFE programme in Latvia, Kaspars Gerhards, Minister for Environmental Protection and Regional Development, honoured the “Green Certificate” as the most significant LIFE project nationwide. The “Green Certificate” has been managed by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development (VARAM) starting from 2006.
This year, the environmental quality label, “Green Certificate”, has been awarded to: country house “Aizupmājas”, Ludza region; holiday house “Bieriņi”, Saldus region; holiday house “Bramaņi”, Jaunpils region; country house “Dieniņas”, Engure region, country house “Dzirnupes”, Limbaži region; guest house “Ezernieki”, Lubāna region; holiday house “Ezersēta”, Pārgauja region; holiday house “Ezerzemes”, Ludza region; holiday house “Gāznieki”, Skrunda region; guest house “Jaunieviņas”, Rauna region; country house “Kastaņas”, Lielvārde region; guest house “Ķoņu dzirnavas”, Naukšēni region; guest house “Kosīši”, Salacgrīva region; guest house “Kučuru dzirnavas”, Madona region; camp site “Labirinti”, Iecava region; country house “Lauciņi”, Limbaži region; manor “Mārcienas muiža” (“Mārciena Manor”), Madona region; guest house “Mauriņi”, Sigulda region; hotel “Mazmežotnes muiža”, Rundāle region; guest house “Meža salas”, Limbaži region; country house “Mūrnieki”, Alūksne region; holiday house “Ogrēni”, Ogre region; guest house “Pilsētnieki”, Tukums region; guest house “Pītagi”, Dundaga region; guest house “Pūpoli”, Dundaga region; guest house “Purmaļi”, Limbaži region; holiday house “Rūķīši”, Rugāji region; guest house “Saule”, Talsi; guest house “Spāre”, Talsi region; guest house “Turbas”, Ikšķile region; holiday house “Upeslejas”, Pārgauja region; guest house “Usma”, Ventspils region; holiday house “Ūši”, Kolka; holiday house “Vējavas”, Salacgrīva region; guest house “Senlīči”, Jelgava region.
