STATUTES OF THE VIDZEME TOURISM ASSOCIATION
1. Name of the Association
1.1. The name of the Association is “Vidzeme Tourism Association” (hereinafter referred to as the Association).
2. Purpose of the Association
2.1. The purpose of the Association is to:
2.1.1. Promote a favorable environment for tourism development and support sustainable tourism development in Vidzeme.
2.1.2. Identify, develop, and create tourism products and tourism infrastructure.
2.1.3. Promote the development of education, further education, and research in tourism and cultural heritage in Vidzeme.
2.1.4. Conduct Vidzeme tourism marketing activities in the local and international market.
2.1.5. Represent the interests of members in state, municipal, and non-governmental organizations, as well as foreign institutions.
2.1.6. Promote tourism-related business activity in Vidzeme.
2.1.7. Promote cooperation among tourism-related companies.
2.1.8. Encourage the creation of new jobs.
2.1.9. Attract investments for the development of the tourism sector in Vidzeme.
2.1.10. Educate managers and employees of tourism-related companies and organizations.
2.1.11. Cooperate with state and municipal institutions, tourism companies, and other organizations.
2.1.12. Participate in the development and implementation of tourism standards, classifications, and certifications.
2.1.13. Promote the exchange, collection, and dissemination of tourism information and the creation of a unified tourism information database.
2.2. To achieve its goals, the Association may:
2.2.1. Develop cooperation among the Association’s members by creating joint projects.
2.2.2. Attract funds from investors and other sources for project implementation.
2.2.3. Provide consulting in tourism finance, economics, legal, and information matters.
2.2.4. Monitor the use of attracted funds for the intended purposes.
2.2.5. Establish the Vidzeme Tourism Development Fund.
2.2.6. Cooperate with similar Latvian and foreign organizations.
3. Duration of the Association
3.1. The Association is established for an indefinite period.
4. Admission, Resignation, and Expulsion of Members
4.1. Any legally competent natural or legal person, or a legally recognized partnership, that supports or operates in the tourism sector may join the Association by submitting a written application in the form determined by the Association’s Board. The Board sets the application form and the list of required documents.
4.2. The Board decides on the admission of a member. The applicant’s request must be reviewed at the next Board meeting, but no later than two weeks after all required documents are received. The applicant must be invited to the Board meeting to express their opinion. Failure to attend does not prevent the Board from making a decision. The Board must notify the applicant in writing of the decision within one week.
4.3. The applicant may appeal a negative Board decision to the General Assembly. If the General Assembly also rejects the application, the applicant is not admitted and may reapply no earlier than one year after the initial application.
4.4. A member may resign at any time by notifying the Board in writing.
4.5. A member may be expelled by a Board decision if:
4.5.1. the member has not paid membership fees for more than 12 months;
4.5.2. the member fails to comply with decisions of the General Assembly and the Board;
4.5.3. the member fails to fulfill their obligations and commitments;
4.5.4. the member engages in activities contrary to these statutes.
4.6. The Board must consider the expulsion at the next meeting, inviting the member to express their opinion. Non-attendance does not prevent the Board from making a decision. The Board must notify the expelled member in writing of the decision and its reasoning within five days.
5. Rights and Duties of Members
5.1. Members have the following rights:
5.1.1. Participate in the governance of the Association.
5.1.2. Receive information about the Association’s activities, including access to all minutes, decisions, and orders.
5.1.3. Participate in all events organized by the Association, submit proposals for improvement, and defend their opinion.
5.1.4. Propose a General Assembly meeting.
5.1.5. Use the scientific and informational materials available to the Association.
5.1.6. Participate in Board meetings and access its decisions.
5.1.7. Resign from the Association.
5.2. Duties of members:
5.2.1. Comply with the statutes and decisions of the General Assembly and the Board.
5.2.2. Pay membership fees regularly.
5.2.3. Support the achievement of the Association’s goals through active participation.
5.2.4. Defend and support the interests of the Association.
5.2.5. Inform the Association of changes in their tourism-related activities.
5.3. Member obligations may be determined by the General Assembly or the Board. Any obligations differing from other members require the member’s consent.
5.4. A member has voting rights if they have paid their membership fees.
6. Structural Units of the Association
6.1. The General Assembly may establish territorial or other structural units of the Association.
6.2. The activities, rights, duties, and relationships of structural units are regulated by regulations approved by the General Assembly.
7. General Assembly Convening and Decision-Making
7.1. The General Assembly is the highest decision-making body of the Association.
7.2. All members have the right to participate. Legal entities are represented by their managers or written representatives.
7.3. The regular General Assembly is convened once a year.
7.4. An extraordinary General Assembly may be convened by the Board or upon written request of at least one-tenth of the members, indicating the reason.
7.5. Members must be notified in writing at least five working days before the meeting.
7.6. The General Assembly is quorate if more than half of the members are present.
7.7. If not quorate, a repeated meeting is convened within three weeks, which can make decisions regardless of the number of members present, provided at least two members attend.
7.8. Decisions are made by a majority vote of those present. Statute amendments and decisions regarding the Association’s dissolution require a two-thirds majority.
8. Executive Body
8.1. The executive body is the Board, consisting of nine (9) members elected by the General Assembly for two years.
8.2. The Board elects a Chairperson from among its members to organize Board work.
8.3. Board members are authorized to represent the Association individually.
8.4. The Board may decide on all matters not exclusively within the General Assembly.
8.5. Board members may receive compensation for fulfilling their duties.
9. Auditor
9.1. The Auditor monitors the Association’s financial and economic activities, elected by the General Assembly for one year.
9.2. The Auditor cannot be a Board member.
9.3. The Auditor:
9.3.1. Audits the Association’s property and funds;
9.3.2. Provides an opinion on the budget and annual report;
9.3.3. Evaluates accounting and record-keeping work;
9.3.4. Provides recommendations for improving financial and economic activities.
9.4. The Auditor performs audits within the deadlines set by the General Assembly, but at least once a year.
9.5. The General Assembly approves the annual report based on the Auditor’s opinion.
10. Membership Fees
10.1. Members pay membership fees once a year. The Board determines the amounts and collection procedure, which may not change within the same calendar year.
Statute amendments were approved at the General Assembly in Zvejniekciems on May 7, 2025.
Updated: 29.04.2026