About 2 million people speak Latvian world-wide, most of whom reside in the Republic of Latvia. Due to viable economic and political factors, Latvia has seen a steady increase in tourism since gaining its independence in 1991. The two-way dictionary furnishes travellers, businesspersons, students, and diplomats with essential vocabulary, while a concise phrasebook covers topics such as eating out, sightseeing, and elementary conversation. Users will also find a pronunciation guide, a fundamental grammar, and an introduction to the Latvian language.