Estonian International Nature Tourism Conference - Low-season Tourism Product Design

The Light in the Dark project in collaboration with Estonian University of Life Sciences and Visit Estonia will organise the Estonian National Nature Tourism Conference in Tartu on 11.3. It is possible to participate both in person in Tartu and online. The program will be in English.

The conference recording is found here: video.emu.ee/viii-emu-loodusturismi-konverents-2025/

The working language of the conference is English. The conference is free of charge for all participants and will be held in a hybrid format, allowing participants to join either on-site in Tartu at Kreutzwaldi 1a or online. REGISTER HERE. 

(The project group with SMEs and DMOs have a separate three day program which includes the conference.)

PROGRAM

9.30 – 10:00   Registration and welcome coffee/tea

10:00 – 10:15 Opening words (Aret Vooremäe - EMÜ and James Simpson – LitD project leader), moderator Indrek Maripuu

10:15 – 12:15

• Product design: regenerative tourism - Prof. Xavier Font, University of Surrey, UK – online.

• Market demand related nature tourism – Lily Allas, Board Member at Jõulumäe Sports & Recreation Centre, Estonia

• Savour the Low Season - Crafting Culinary Experiences That Shine Year Round - Niclas Fjellström, global coordinator of Culinary Heritage, Sweden

• The key for product development in tourism - Antra Spinga, tourism marketing material designer, Latvia

12:15 – 13:15 LUNCH + project Bascil pilot regions "Estonian Wine Trail" and "Jõgevamaa katab laua" project outcomes introduction with tasting. Project LITD hands-on workshop provided by Hiiu Gourmet OÜ

13:15 – 14:30

• Light in the Dark project Low season tourism challenge inventory results - Helena Von Schoultz, Aland University of Applied Sciences

• Branding low season – Pär Johansson, Stockholm Business Region AB (VisitStockholm)

14:30 – 15:00 Coffee/tea break

15:00 – 16:15 Best low-season tourism practices by SMEs or DMOs

• Diginomads: theory and practices - Indrek Maripuu, Loovusait, Estonia

• Apple safary and farm shop - Anna and Jan Alm, Öfvergårds, Åland

• Fishing tours as a local lifestyle - Katja Euro, Strömfors bed & bistro, Kotka, Finland

• Selling destination in low season - Jaanika Toome, Mulgi Elamuskeskus, Estonia

• Journey in Stockholm Archipelago with the insight and value of collaborating in co-packaging – Ulrika Hedbom, The Lofsdals Guides; Marie Östblom, Stockholm Business Region AB (VisitStockholm)

16:15 – 16:45 Online quizz/workshop: obstacles and solutions for low season tourism

16:45 – 17:00 Concluding remarks

REGISTER HERE