Tourism Law in Europe

1 Lithuanian Law on Tourism Jolanta Vilkevičiūtė 1 1. Tourism Institutional Organisation and Legal Regulation; 2. Accommodation Services and their Regulation; 3. Tour Operators, TourismAgencies and Legal Regulation of their Activities; 4. Restaurants, Cafés and Legal Regulation of their Establishment; 5. Types of Tourism in Lithuania; 6. Legal Regulation of Guides’ Activities; References. 1. Tourism Institutional Organisation and Legal Regulation Lithuania is in Northern Europe, where its natural environment boasts an ever-changing palette of seasonal colours. Lithuania is the largest of the three Baltic states, with a total land area of 65,300 km² and at least 2.794 million people currently call Lithuania home. The capital Vilnius is renowned as one of the cosiest, cleanest and greenest capitals in Europe (Lithuania’s strategy for presentation abroad 2020 – 2030, 2020). “Tourism – is an economic activity, which, first, promotes the economic growth. However, in order to remain competitive in transnational tourism market, it is important to support sustainable tourism development. The economic impact of tourism is very important; however, sociocultural impact has to be considered as well. “(The Lithuanian Tourism Development Programme 2014-2020). Tourism management functions in the Republic of Lithuania are performed by the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, the Government, the Ministry of Economy and Innovation, institutions authorised by the Government and municipalities . According to the Law on Tourism of the Republic of Lithuania, the Seimas determines the directions of tourism development policy by approving the long-term strategy for the development of Lithuanian tourism and adopting laws, meanwhile the Government sets out 1 Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy.