As of 7 September 2016 registration for participation in the international, scientific conference „Experience, Innovations and Challenges in Tourism: Local Solutions for Global Tendencies” is open. The conference will be held on 21 October 2016 in the Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences, Cēsu Street 4, Valmiera.
Topics important and relevant for enhancement of the future competitiveness of the tourism and hospitality sector in Latvia will be touched upon and strategies for the upcoming decade will be revised. During the conference three main topics will be discussed in form of lectures and panel discussions:
• Place branding and event management;
• Gastronomy tourism and contemporary taste in the Baltic Sea Region;
• Tendencies, innovations and technological solutions in tourism.
Three special guests through provision of valuable insights of their personal experience and latest trends will elaborate following aspects of the tourism conference:
• Teemu Moilanen from Finland – about public events and their role in strengthening the destination branding;
• Jan Krag Jacobsen from Denmark – about the New Nordic Food manifesto: experience of implementation and know-how for Baltic Sea Region;
• Mario Sepp from Austria – about the role of service design in creation of tourism product.
Conference participants will have an opportunity to take part in two blocks of parallel sessions with three thematic areas out of which they will have to choose the most appealing one. Three main lectures and part of the parallel sections will be held in English. At the conference simultaneous interpretation in Latvian will be provided by necessity.
In the first block of parallel session following topics will be available: „Innovations and ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) Solutions for Tourism Development”, „Tourism trends and future travellers”, as well as „Strategies for Tourism Destination Management in the Baltics”. In the session about innovations and ICT solutions presentations will be given by lecturers such as Mr Ernests Gabrāns from the company „Wunderkraut Latvija”, Mr Kaspars Osis from the Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences and researchers from the University of Tartu Rein Ahas and Janika Raun, who also represent the organization „Mobility Lab”. In the section „Tourism Trends and future travellers ” lectures will be given by the host of the TV show about information technologies „Nākotnes parks” („Future Park”) Mr Reinis Zitmanis, member of the board of the „Aspired” Ltd. Ms Ilze Eglāja and the director of the media agency “Dentsu Aegis Network Latvia - Vizeum Latvija” Ms Linda Saulīte. In the third parallel section about the strategies for tourism destination management public will be addressed by the manager of Client Relations for Destinations of the Estonian Tourist Board Ms Kristiina Jors, senior specialist of the Tourism Policy Division of the Ministry of Economy of Lithuania Ms Lidija Bajaruniene, as well as tourism industry expert and lecturer of the Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences Mr Andris Klepers. The discussion will be enriched by the participation of the director of the Tourism Department of the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia Ms Inese Šīrava.
In the other session block following sections will be offered: „Events, Service design for Tourism destination Branding”, „Restaurant trends. Contemporary Baltic Taste” and „Use of the Industrial Heritage Potentional”. In discussions and lectures Ms Gundega Skudriņā, TV hostess and forerunner of the gastronomic performances in Latvia, will share her personal experience in branding, along with her the owner of the „Ideju institūts” („Institute of Ideas”) Ltd. and chairman of the Latvian Association of Event Producers Mr Guntis Ērglis and Mr Mārtiņš Gaigals, award’s “Honorary Citizen” of Strenči town (Latvia) recipient will give lectures. The contemporary Baltic taste will be discussed by three leading Baltic Chefs: Mr Ēriks Dreibants, Mr Deivydas Prasipaliauskas and Mr Rene Uusmees. Issues related with the service design in the context of industrial heritage will be analysed by the director of the Association „European Greenways” Ms Mercedes Muñoz Zamora, member of the board of the Industrial Heritage Trust of Latvia and industrial heritage expert of the „Latvian Railways” Mr Toms Altbergs and Dr G.Mahender Reddy from the National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Management in Hyderabad, India.
Participation fee: 25 EUR per person. After 7 October: 35 EUR per person.
Registration for the conference, additional information about the conference programme and other practicalities can be found here: https://www.registration.lv/pieredze_inovacijas_turisms_Valmiera/en
For inquiries, we invite you to get in touch with the conference organizers via E-mail:
[email protected].
Valmiera is the regional hub for entrepreneurship and together with the Gauja National Park it is among the most exportable tourism destinations in the Baltic States. Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences with the leading tourism industry experts working in it is a place where young tourism industry professionals are trained. Therefore, it is reasonable that this particular place is chosen to host the conference, contributing to the regional development and influencing the strategic directions of the tourism industry in the Baltic region.
Conference organizers: Valmiera City Council and Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences in cooperation with the Tourism Department of the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia.
Partners: Vidzeme Tourism Association and Vidzeme Planning Region.
Information partner: Travelnews.lv
To publish this article please contact BalticTravelnews.eu editorial board
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