From October 14 to 16, tourism professionals took part in a familiarization visit to Kurzeme combined with a networking event “IEPAZĪSTI KURZEMI”, organized by the Tourism Export Services Department of the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA) in cooperation with the Kurzeme Tourism Association. The aim of the event was to promote a deeper understanding of Kurzeme’s tourism offerings, encourage visits to regional attractions, and explore opportunities to extend the stay of foreign tourists in the region.
The visit began with an introduction to the tastes and retro charm of Kurzeme. During the visit to the Classic Car & Motorcycle Garage in Milzkalne, participants had the opportunity to view an impressive collection of vintage vehicles. This was followed by a sightseeing tour of Kandava in retro cars and a tasting of Latvian wines at the Kandava Wine House. After lunch at Kalnmuiža Manor, participants arrived in Kuldīga, where they were accommodated in the romantic hotels “Jēkaba Sēta” and “Sīmaņa Hotel” and their apartments, before taking a walk through the charming old town of Kuldīga. Dinner took place at the recently restored Kulde Manor, where the hostess Sandra Zaiceva shared her experience, Kurzeme chefs Andris Ūpis and Kristaps Lieldaudze surprised guests with regional flavors, and entrepreneur Reinis Pižiks presented his tourism offer “Ances Dabas māja” in the form of a light-hearted and humorous stand-up performance.
The second day’s main event — the networking session at the concert hall “Duna” in Kuldīga — brought together tourism industry representatives to showcase Kurzeme’s destinations and build new partnerships. After regional presentations, participants engaged in individual meetings with entrepreneurs to learn about tourism offers in Kurzeme. In the afternoon, the visit continued along two routes — North Kurzeme and South Kurzeme.
The North Kurzeme route included visits to Zlēkas Church, Vārve Manor, Oviši Lighthouse, Dundaga Castle, and experiences of Livonian cultural heritage and traditional cuisine.
Participants of the South Kurzeme route visited Ģirts Brumsons’ Art Park, various tourist attractions in Aizpute, the Forest Design Garden, and the Aizpute Winery, where they sampled local products.
On the final day of the visit, participants met the renowned textile artist Baiba Ritere in her studio, visited Jaunauce Manor Palace, and concluded the tour with a themed medieval feast at Jaunpils Castle.
A total of 17 tour operators and agents from Latvia participated in the visit, along with 25 tourism service providers from Kurzeme who joined the networking event. Participants highly appreciated the event format — combining networking with regional site visits. The discussions were active and productive, inspiring new routes and collaborations. Many expressed a strong interest in future cooperation with Kurzeme tourism representatives, while local entrepreneurs were pleased with the opportunity to present their offers to a broader audience.