International conference “Military Heritage Tourism: Innovative Approaches and Baltic Cooperation” / March 25–26, 2026
18.02.2026
On March 25–26, 2026, in Jūrmala at the Hotel Jūrmala Spa & Conference Centre, an international conference will bring together tourism professionals and entrepreneurs, historians from Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia to further develop a shared Baltic military heritage tourism product.
>>> Conference Programme (in English, PDF)
Please register by March 10, 2026 by filling out the application form: https://forms.gle/i11LLwsT3MRHmbL8A
About the conference:
The conference aims to strengthen Baltic cooperation, share insights and successful practices in developing military heritage sites and improving accessibility, and discuss responsible storytelling and inclusive approaches to interpreting sensitive history. The event will present the results of the Interreg projects “Military Heritage II” and “MIL-HER ACCESSIBLE”, outlining future opportunities for extending and strengthening the shared Baltic military heritage tourism product.
The programme includes:
- New perspectives in military heritage tourism
- Architectural perspectives: how to develop and restore military heritage sites (examples from Lithuania)
- Responsible storytelling and experience design for interpreting sensitive history – the Soviet era
- International success stories in military heritage tourism from Poland and Norway
- Accessibility in military heritage tourism: good practices in Latvia and Estonia
Within the conference programme, participants will have the opportunity to join a guided excursion around Jūrmala (by bus), exploring the city’s architectural and cultural landmarks and gaining insights into Jūrmala’s resort heritage and Soviet-era sanatorium culture. At the end of the first day, participants are invited to an excursion and joint dinner at “Valguma Pasaule”, a former restricted government residence during the Soviet era.
We warmly invite you to join the conference and contribute to shaping how the Baltic story is understood, experienced, and carried into the future — responsibly, creatively, and sustainably.
The event is organised with the financial support of the European Union under the Interreg VI-A Latvia–Lithuania and Interreg VI-A Estonia–Latvia Programmes 2021–2027, strengthening cross-border cooperation and fostering accessible, inclusive, and competitive military heritage tourism in the Baltic region.
This publication has been produced with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of the Latvian country tourism association “Lauku ceļotājs” and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.
