VILNIUS - Emotions inLithuania are running high. The country is reeling from a corona inspired lockdown which has impacted many businesses.Eating establishments display mannequins at tables to create ambiance. Gone arethe tourists who sat together in celebration, nibbling on local cuisine andsipping fine wine.
To add insult toinjury, influential politicalgroups have rallied together to lead a boycott against Lithuanian tourism. It is a protest against theLithuanian government’s decision to build a conference centre on a Jewish cemetery, a desecration of holyground, purchased freehold for the Jewish community in Vilnius.
The impact of thegovernment’s decision is set to result in the loss of thousands of jobs as aconsequence of the boycott. Most Lithuanians believe that the controversialdecision is a constraint on enhancing positive diplomatic relations in theinternational playing field.
An independent pollconducted by CBD News Agency concluded that 58.4% Lithuanians did not favor theconstruction of the conference centre in Vilnius, 16.3% believed it would befavorable and 25.3% didn’t have an opinion.
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Barry Jenkins
Human Right’s Watch (Europe)
Website: https://telegra.ph/Lithuanian-Tourist-Industry-Suffers-Setback-06-02
Email: digitalcontentlondon@gmail.com
