From 11 to 13 November, representatives of Visit Tartu and tourism organisations from Tartu County took part in a study visit to Riga and Sigulda, organised within the fifth meeting of the Tourism4SDG project.
The delegation, which included Annika Ojasaar, Miia Maris Praks, as well as stakeholders Maarja Ülper (Luunja municipality), Sakari Neuvonen (Tampere House) and Linda Saar (Lodjakoda), examined how Latvia is advancing sustainable tourism. The programme covered the national tourism strategy, destination‑marketing practices, circular‑economy initiatives, green‑airport projects and conservation work in national parks.
The group travelled to Riga by train (a three‑hour journey with a change in Valga), highlighting rail as a low‑carbon transport option. Their arrival coincided with Lāčplēsis Day (11 November), Latvia’s memorial day for freedom fighters, and they joined a guided evening walk through the city centre.
Key presentations included:
- LIAA’s overview of digital marketing, including the successful use of TikTok.
- Riga Airport’s roadmap to climate neutrality, featuring the electrification of support equipment and the development of large solar parks.
- Riga Planning Region’s “slow tourism” concepts and a study of the 60 most sustainable companies in the Pierīga area.
- A circular‑economy maturity model presented by a Vidzeme University PhD candidate, showing that Latvian tourism firms are at an early stage of implementation.
- Gauja National Park’s achievement of EUROPARC certification for the 2025‑2029 period.
On 13 November the visit continued in Sigulda, where the partners observed:
- The Sigulda Castle Quarter operating as a creative hub that blends heritage, design and local entrepreneurship.
- Zilver winery’s circular‑economy practices, based on local ingredients and environmental stewardship.
- Turaida Museum Reserve’s visitor‑flow management system that protects heritage sites while accommodating tourists.
The day concluded with a Good Practices Committee discussion, during which participants exchanged ideas and identified actions for further development within the project.
The study trip provided valuable benchmarks for Tartu: community‑driven initiatives that boost destination visibility, Riga Airport’s climate‑neutral roadmap, and the need for systematic impact measurement highlighted by the circular‑economy model and the GDS Movement.
The Tourism4SDG project runs from April 2024 to June 2028. For more information, contact Miia Maris Praks, Sustainable Tourism Coordinator, at [email protected].
Source: visittartu.com
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