Workshop Information

The workshop will bring together European professionals in rural tourism – associations, tour operators, tourist boards, service providers and others – to summarise and evaluate the changes in the sector and highlight innovative, constructive and successful approaches to win the challenges presented to rural tourism by the economic situation in Europe.
The workshop programme is structured in three theme panels, each theme introduced by a keynote speech given by the top level rural tourism professionals of European countries and followed by country presentations and panel discussion. The speakers and panellists represent the leading rural tourism organisations: Eurogites, Gites de France, Austrian Farm Holidays, Farmstay UK and other practitioners. The workshop is combined with the annual conference of Latvian rural tourism providers. The workshop language is English with translation to Latvian.

Why come?

The workshop is the first wide international gathering of rural tourism professionals since the congress in Hungary 2007 to discuss the hottest issues in the sector and generate professional inspiration.
The list of the panellists speaks for itself – we were able to join the best of the best practicing experts in rural tourism, and the organisers are proud to have all of them in one event. This “star team” is a guarantee for high quality and value presentations and discussions.
Rural tourism has reached a certain milestone in its development. What changes are required, how to go about them to stay in the market and turn threats into benefits? The experience exchange with colleagues from other countries will give support and added value to individual efforts of rural tourism stakeholders.
And finally – after the workshop, a summer evening in Latvia is an excellent occasion to socialise with your foreign colleagues and friends while enjoying Latvian national values like good beer, food, and the white nights when it is light even by midnight.

For international participants please find travel information to Latvia, Riga here.

The Patrons of the workshop:

European Federation of Farm and Village Tourism "EuroGites"

The workshop is co-financed by:

	The action has received EC funding, project "Transfer of Quality Ensurance Tools for European Rural Tourism Sector"
	Supported by a grant from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Noway through the EEA Financial Mechanism and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism, the project "Sustainable use and management of nature resources in the Natura 2000 sites- popular and potential tourism destinations in Latvia".

	With the contribution of the LIFE financial instrument of the European Community, the Project POLPROP- NATURA

	Ministry of the Environment

Supporters:


Latvian Tourism Development Agency		Project "European Destinations of Excellence (EDEN)"		Ministry of Agriculture