Baltic States as a single tourism product in foreign

markets

Three-in-one holidays

Armands SlokenbergsDirector,

Latvian Tourism Development Agency

«Balttour Forum 2014» Riga, 06.02.2014.

Agreement among Baltic states in the field of Tourism

• Agreement among the Governments of the Republic of Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania on Co-operation in the Field of Tourism (26 June, 2002)

The main goals as determined in the Agreement are:• To enable the tourist flow between the Baltic States; • To contribute the cooperation between the National Tourism

administrations and organizations, legal entities and private persons;

• To contribute the development of education and practice in the field of tourism;

• To create common marketing activities and publications as to promote the Baltic States as a tourism destination.

Agreement among Baltic states in the field of Tourism

• Baltic states shall cooperate both financially and non-financially in: – promoting the Baltic area as a tourist destination for short-haul

and long-haul markets;– development of Baltic tourism brand;– development of tourism products;– development of tourism infrastructure and quality of tourism

services;– reducing administrative burdens;– collecting of statistical information;– participation in international tourism organisations;– applying of modern technologies for tourism development;

Joint Tourism Committee

• To ensure the implementation of Agreement, the Parties established a Joint Tourism Committee consisting of tourism officials from the Baltic States.

• The aim of the Committee is to implement joint working program, annual working plan and projects linked to the development of trilateral co-operation in the field of tourism.

• Committee meets regularly in quarterly meetings.

Main joint Baltic marketing activities

Tourism information brochures

www.tava.gov.lv/lv/tava-izdotas-publikacijas

Baltic Camping Map (English, German)

Baltic Travel Journal (English)

Baltic Tourist Map (English, Japanese, Spanish)

Baltic flash presentation

• Show the main Baltic tourism products in a visually and emotionally captivating manner.

• The presentation is structured into 7 parts:

- Capitals & Citybreak - Reasons to go- Nature- Meetings&Incentives- Gastronomy- Culture- Wellness

Visits for media and touroperators

• Journalists and touroperators from - Germany, USA, Japan, China

Presentations, workshops and press conferences

• Baltic Press Conference, ITB Berlin• Baltic stand at tourism exhibitions (JATA

(Japan), NY Times Travel show (USA))• Baltic presentations for tourism professionals

and media (USA, Japan, China)

An adventure travel campaign that takes place in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania (May-August) since 2007

Main aims: • Promote Baltics as a travelling destination• Increase both domestic travelling as well as

travelling to neighboring countries• Increase interest to different tourism attractions• Increase visits to different regions

Campaign main activities:• Website (ENG, RUS, LIT, LAT, EST languages)• Brochures (EST/RUS, LAT/RUS, LIT/ENG)• Press trips for journalists (EST, LAT, LIT)• Media coverage cross-Baltics• On-line advertising

New concept in 2014

Baltic Travel Campaign

• International event for tourism professionals

• 10.-12.09.2014. in Riga • Workshop & study tours of

Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia

• www.balticconnecting.com

International event for tourism professionals «Baltic Connecting»

Joint Baltic initiatives

• European Amber Road – an initiative that aims to create different tourism products and services connected to amber

• European Destinations of Excellences EDEN - a project promoting sustainable tourism development models across the European Union

Future challanges

• Baltic activities in national tourism strategies• Funding for Baltic tourism activities• Cooperation in reducing administrative

burdens• Common chapter in national tourism portals

Welcome to the Baltics!

www.visitestonia.comwww.lithuania.travel

www.latvia.travel