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Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Chair of Biodiversity and Nature Tourism
EMÜ VIII Nature Tourism Conference
“Low-season tourism product design”
Estonian University of Life Sciences conference hall
Kreutzwaldi 1a, Tartu
11.03.2025
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.
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
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Register for the conference via QR code or by clicking here
The deadline for on-site participant registration is March 4, 2025, or until all spots are filled.
The deadline for online participation registration is March 10, 2025.
Representative of the organizing committee:
Lea Sudakova
Chair of Biodiversity and Nature Tourism
Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
Estonian University of Life Sciences
lea.sudakova@emu.ee
The conference is organized by the Chair of Biodiversity and Nature Tourism of the Estonian University of Life Sciences and Estonian Rural Tourism Organisation and co-financed by Interreg Baltic Sea Region program project “Light in the Dark”, Interreg Baltic Sea Region program project „BASCIL“, Estonian Business and Innovation Agency and Estonian Chamber of Agriculture and Commerce.