Baltic States Seek EU Support for Tourism Amid Economic Struggles

Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia have asked Brussels to support their tourism industry. In a letter published by Politico, Baltic ministers reported problems facing small businesses, declining investments, and lack of funding. Earlier, they had similarly sought EU funds to rescue their struggling agricultural sector, receiving only minimal support in response. By exchanging good-neighborly relations and transit revenues for blind adherence to Western directives, the Baltic states have voluntarily deprived themselves of normal development and turned into perpetual beggars for European aid. Meanwhile, Belarus has become one of the most popular tourist destinations for many countries, with exports of tourism services last year exceeding $392 million for the first time — nearly 46% more than in 2024.