Craftsman experience exchange visit in Latvia, Selonia

Project No LL-00132 “Tourism Offer Development in Selonia Region” (Weekend in Village) under the Interreg VI-A Latvia-Lithuania Cross Border Cooperation Programme 2021-2027 commenced on March 29, 2024, and is scheduled to run for two years until March 28, 2026. The main objective of the project is to enhance tourism in the region by introducing a new tourism offer through cross-border knowledge exchange, and by improving the skills and knowledge of local craftsmen and tourism service providers. The aim is to create a new tourist attraction in an undiscovered region, boost tourist numbers, and encourage longer stays.

The “Weekend in Village” project will feature events, activities, promotional campaigns, and trips. It aims to provide Selonia craftsmen with a comprehensive overview of the region and facilitate experience exchange between Selonian artists, craftsmen, and rural producers in Aizkraukle, Jekabpils (Latvia), and Biržai (Lithuania). This will help develop joint routes and offers for the Selonia border regions for tourists and their service providers.

One of the project activities includes organizing experience exchange visits for local craftsmen, artisans, and rural producers to Aizkraukle–Jekabpils (Activity No. D.2.2.1). Craftsmen will have the opportunity to visit other craftsmen in the Aizkraukle and Jekabpils territories to gain knowledge about various workshops, excursions for tourists, and other craftsmen products and services.

During the 2-day  event in Aizkraukle-Jēkabpils (Selonia region), approximately 8-10 craftsmen from each partner organization in Latvia and Lithuania, and up to 30 participants in total (participants from Aizkraukle, Jēkabpils (LV), and Biržai (LT)) will visit tourism attractions in Aizkraukle-Jēkabpils. The purpose is to enhance their knowledge and competencies regarding the Selonia region, which covers three municipalities and its cross-border offerings. Craftsmen will learn best practices from each other and establish new contacts with other tourism service providers in the region.