In an unexpected turn of events that has left even seasoned urban planners scratching their heads, Riga's Mayor Kaspars Komiskis announced on Wednesday a revolutionary strategy to tackle the city's notorious pothole problem. Instead of fixing them, the city plans to transform these urban craters into celebrated tourist attractions.

Dubbed 'Urban Crater Parks', the initiative aims to highlight the rugged beauty of Riga's bumpy streets, wooing adventurous travelers who are tired of smooth, predictable roads. 'It's time we stopped seeing our potholes as a problem and started recognizing them for the opportunity they are,' Mayor Komiskis declared at a bustling press conference held at the intersection of Merķeļa iela and Brīvības bulvāris, a notorious hotspot for crater-gazing.

Komiskis was confident that this venture could generate significant tourism revenue, citing a study supposedly published by the Latvian Institute of Geological Humor, which claimed that '52% of millennials crave a more jarring travel experience.' 'We've been using the wrong metric all along,' stated Komiskis, adjusting his freshly-purchased Patagonia hat. 'People don't remember another smooth ride, but a near-ejection from a minibus at a road crater leaves a lifetime impression.'

The concept has been warmly received by some sectors, particularly among extreme sports enthusiasts. Viktors Gniedels, founder of the Riga-based cycling club 'Bumpy Ride,' expressed enthusiasm. 'Frankly, the thrilling unpredictability of Riga's roads is why we chose this city for our annual Extreme Trekking Marathon. A flat ride is boring. Our participants come here for the adrenaline of dodging the world's deadliest traffic obstacles while balancing on two wheels.'

To complement this innovative approach, the Riga Tourism Board is developing photographic tours focusing exclusively on the largest and most aesthetically pleasing potholes. Professional photographers and Instagram influencers are reportedly already lining up to capture the next viral shot in front of authentic 'Riga Road Craters.' A tentative guide prepared by the city's young, fashion-forward interns suggests that 'the crippling beauty of the reflections in these watery pits will be an Instagram hit.'

Not everyone is amused. Ania Rudziņa, an accountant who regularly navigates the pockmarked streets, voiced concerns over safety. 'It takes me twice as long to get to work now that I have to circumnavigate these ‘tour sites’. Plus, do we really want to advertise our neglected infrastructure to the world?' she lamented, shaking her head in disbelief.

Despite skepticism, the project appears to be full steam ahead. The government is already planning its first 'International Pothole Appreciation Day,' promising a city-wide scavenger hunt with prizes for solving riddles about crater dimensions and historical data.

In a closing remark that left journalists both amused and perplexed, Mayor Komiskis flashed a wry grin: 'Our roads might be full of holes, but who says our city's future has to be?' With a characteristic wave, he quipped, 'Remember, it's not about filling potholes, but filling our lives with new experiences.'

Whether Riga's vision of turning road disrepair into a global tourist sensation will succeed remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure: the city is paving the way for unique, albeit bumpy, travel adventures.