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Tuesday at noon at the Palanga TIC facilities – quiet, more tourists visit only on weekends. At the beginning of the conversation, the head of the R.Kmitienė center admits: it is extremely difficult to predict this year’s trends or what to forecast in the tourism sector. There was also a period of confusion when the 2020 marketing plans had to be abruptly changed. It is true that even during the quarantine, Palanga TIC worked, in fact, in standby mode. Contact with the guests of Palanga had to be maintained in a virtual way: several competitions were organized, it was suggested to guess in the photo which place of the complex was represented in it, it was recommended to put together a Palanga puzzle, virtual visits to the old villas were organized .
Photo by Sigismund Gedvila / 15min / Rasa Kmitiene
“We dream in silence and we are afraid every day, we don’t know when something can happen anywhere.” The most unusual thing during the quarantine was that tourists did not open the door of our center. We receive many calls to check for coronaviruses. Mature people called just to ask what the weather was like in Palanga, how we were doing. “Many have admitted that they are sad at home, so they can speak like this,” smiled the interlocutor.
Currently, most of the time, after 10-15 calls or written requests per day, concerned Russians and Belarusians are approaching ICT, who are used to spending a lot of summer time in Palanga. According to R. Kmitienė, they rush, at least in their thoughts, to the Lithuanian coast, asking when the borders will be opened. According to the interlocutor, the president of the Association of Hotels and Restaurants of Palanga also admitted that there was a shortage of Russian-speaking tourists, because they stayed 10 nights or more, somewhat more taxed, and the rest time in Palanga was longer.
Repairs were made during quarantine
Physically, Palanga TIC opened its doors when hotels began providing accommodation services on May 11. In the first days, the number of visitors did not reach, and the first to enter, as R. Kmitienė remembers, was a local resident who wanted to collect the Palangiškis card.
“Last year 59% of all visitors came to us. They were foreigners, these numbers may change this year. However, Lithuanian tourists in Palanga are known to visit ICT only in bad weather and ask what to do, And when a foreigner comes to a new place, he always visits the tourist information center first.
The tourist has changed, also his needs. Previously, especially foreigners used to buy magnets with the Lithuanian inscription in English, now they no longer buy: various bracelets have become popular. Souvenir mugs are also only interested in the most expensive ones: quality has become important.
During the quarantine, we also had time to rethink the values of the resort, we analyzed what kind of guests visit us and we began to think more about the quality of the services. And the catering and lodging sector resorted to unscheduled repairs, and many were renovated. It is as if we all meet during this period and we can receive the guest as well as possible, ”explained the interlocutor.
Every second or third is Latvian or Estonian
The analysis of tourists revealed different groups of tourists from Palanga, distinguished by their needs. According to R. Kmitienė, the complex has a lot to offer: it is not for nothing that the brand slogan “Choose what you love” is used in the brand. You can choose what your heart desires.
“One of the largest segments that visit Palanga are young families with children. Many even move jobs here: someone works remotely and someone walks through the pine forests and shoreline with the children. This year, this trend has become even more pronounced.
Vacationers in their 40s and 60s often rest with their grandchildren, or one spouse only rests with the other on weekends. The number of overnight stays by local tourists is increasing and lengthening.
In June, many tourists in Palanga were Lithuanian, only the borders of the Baltic states were opened: Latvians and Estonians began to travel. Now, I think that every second person that comes to the center is Latvian or Estonian. They are likely to visit Palanga more this year than last year. We also note that the Finns are coming, ”presented R. Kmitien presentó.
On a sunny winter day, there are sometimes as many people as on a summer afternoon.
When asked about the current occupancy rate in Palanga, the interviewee made an observation: on weekends, the complex is almost full, and during the week more tourists would like it. Palanga is expected to be bustling next weekend. peak at your own pace, as the 1006 km Aurum race will take place.
He remembered the case when the beach had hot days for a while and then it suddenly rained; Then the entire crowd of tourists moved away from the beach towards the Šventoji Monkey Bridge, forming traffic jams.
According to R. Kmitienė, it is not necessary to forget another segment of vacationers, those who come to their second home in Palanga in the summer. Not many people visited the complex earlier this year, they became isolated during the quarantine.
“Palanga is bustling all year round, it is just an active and passive tourist period. Seasonality is no longer felt. On a sunny winter day there are sometimes as many people as on a summer afternoon. Especially if that sunny day strikes a Saturday or Sunday. The sea and the beach are so mystical then. And the smell of the forest … It seems that the wind blows from the head, all expectations, there are good solutions. That is why we say that after staying in Palanga for on the weekend, it will regain its strength for 2-3 months ”, smiled the interlocutor.
The price jump is not noticeable
When asked if the Palanga entrepreneurs reduced or increased prices to compensate for what was lost during the quarantine, R. Kmitienė replied, not noticing the jump in the prices of services or goods, if we compare them with last summer. Yes, from San Juan to Herbal they always grow. If there is demand, then the offer may dictate conditions in some way.
“Many Palanga service providers have borne the costs of disinfectants to create working conditions,” said the director of Palanga TIC.
A difficult period at this time, according to her, for guides, tour guides due to the lack of foreign tourist groups. The paid shore excursions had to start on July 10 of this year, but even now they have not yet taken place, no group of 8 people has gathered. Russian speakers were more interested in such excursions.
“It just caught our eye then. Our pace has slowed down. Now, step by step, we are trying to move forward, we are no longer stuck. It used to be that we were doing 5 jobs at a time and still thinking about the sixth. The pandemic he forced to stop. The guests of Palanga also learned to walk: they walk in silence and discover unknown places in the complex. It is no longer the case that they run towards the bridge and back. Now tourists are more notorious, they no longer ride bicycles as they ran “The Labryčio running track on the coast is also reviving”, the interlocutor was happy.
When asked if J.Basanavičiaus Street has also changed, R.Kmitienė asked himself briefly: People also walk more slowly on it.
“As I mentioned, the guest has changed. Their needs have also changed. He prefers to travel alone, discover a different Palanga, J. Basanavičiaus street is no longer interesting: everyone is looking for new spaces, especially those in which children would be interested. We also received inquiries about how young people could hang out with their girls on Birutė Hill or on the beach. One, lo and behold, he wished that the ship would arrive at its favorite spot on the beach and sail out to sea.
Why can’t you tie up a yacht on the Palanga Bridge, like in Sopot, Poland? Because our coast is east, it is constantly covered in sand. As a result, Count Tiškevičius’s plans to turn the city of Palanga into a commercial center failed. We must constantly adapt to nature. It is the greatest force that we cannot control, “summarized R. Kmitienė.
Erik Ovcharenko / 15min photo / Sopot Sea Bridge
When we stopped during quarantine, nature seems to have become more active. The head of the Palanga Tourist Information Center admits: in fact, when you go for a walk early in the morning, you can notice, especially near Vanagupe, more animals: foxes, bunnies, deer.
As we concluded the conversation with the head of Palanga TIC, we thought about the near future: it is likely that Palanga will finally merge with the Saint, we will be able to walk along the longest promenade, we will have a rebuilt port.
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