Light in the Dark Goes Project Partner Meeting in Kurzeme, Latvia

For a long time, Latvia was mainly known for its spas, cultural heritage and the capital Riga among tourists. Tourists, however, no longer only want to experience cities, but also a leisurely holiday in nature, in destinations that are not crowded with other tourists. Latvia has a lot of green nature, clean beaches and picturesque countryside that the Light in the Dark project partners were able to explore at Camping Melnsils and its vicinity between 13–15 October 2025. 

A bus transfer from Riga airport to Melnsils Camping was organised for the participants. The Novia team had flights between Turku and Riga, and the schedule enabled some additional ‘adventure’. Hence, James, Janina and Maria rented a car at the airport. Making time to explore further during a work trip is a significant challenge for most of us, and our local host Anna Upsava provided us with excellent suggestions for gems to explore along the way to Melnsils.

Our first stop was Ķemeri Bog Trail. What better way to start a work trip than a brisk walk on the bog, into the world of moss, small pine trees, deep pools and tiny dark lakes. We also climbed an observation platform that offered a magnificent view of the bog from above. Along the way we picked and enjoyed cranberries.

Our next stop was the town of Kuldīga, located in the western part of Latvia, in the central Kurzeme region. We were not disappointed, since the old town felt both magical and romantic, and was well worth a visit. We were not surprised to learn that the old town of Kuldiga and the red-brick bridge across the Venta River are in the UNESCO World Heritage list since 2023. James had arranged for us to meet with Jana Bergmane, Head of the Kuldīga Tourism Development Centre and she further explained about the opportunities and challenges of the destination.

There was a warm reunion with the rest of the Light in the Dark team at Melnsils Camping. The owner of the camping, Roberts Ādams Lagzdiņš, welcomed us and told us the story of Melnsils Camping, before we enjoyed dinner at Melnsils Pub.

After breakfast the following day, the whole team was transferred by bus to Kolka Cape - a place where waves from two seas clash – the open Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Riga. The team had time for a short walk on the beach and some catching up. Next, we drove to Ance Nature House, in the middle of the forest of North Kurzeme, where the meeting started.

A view from the beach.

According to Loreta Pižika, the creator of Ances Nature House, the house is designed to create an atmosphere of authenticity and light, as a place to be with your loved ones. It is a place for beautiful celebrations in the peaceful and sincere atmosphere of the village of Ances”.

Project manager Janina Selin opened the meeting and welcomed everybody. There were partners on-site, as well as remotely via TEAMS. The meeting comprised key updates, starting with Antti Honkanen’s presentation of the Light in the Dark handbook. He presented how the handbook was designed to serve as a practical guide for destinations and SMEs, combining pilot insights, sustainability principles and marketing concepts. The handbook will be accompanied by a media bank with visual assets that will further support in implementing and communicating projects ideas.

Next, Sofia Augustsson from Visit Åland presented the results of the META campaign, which focused on digital outreach and social media engagement. Her analysis highlighted strong performance in audience reach, especially through targeted ads and storytelling formats. The campaign demonstrated how authentic narratives and captivating visuals can boost visibility for off-season experiences in the Baltic Sea region.

Meeting with Light in the Dark project partners.

Anna Upsava concluded the session by summarising the key metrics from the project’s pilot activities. The report included both participant feedback and indicators, such as seasonality and sustainability. These figures will also be included in the handbook, to help shape recommendations for future product development.

We had a delicious lunch at Ance Nature House, before we were thrown into what turned out to be a breathtaking adventure. The team had an opportunity to test the Daba Laba safari trip “Disconnect to Reconnect”. Two jeeps took us through the "Ance swamps and forest roads”. Driving occurred primarily on the dirt roads in the forest. There were moments on the edges of the fields, when the participants were not sure if the jeeps would make it through without tipping over. The participants got a better view and even more immersive experience from the roof tops of the jeeps. Once back at Melnsils, the sauna was a perfect transition from an active afternoon into a more relaxed evening program in the form of dinner.

Adventure through the wilderness.

Latvia’s food culture is unique, with its own cooking methods and traditions. Latvians smoke everything from meat to cheese and sometimes use dill in a bold way. The dinner at Melnsils was a meal featuring very local flavours, with traditional family recipes, fish and regional specialities.

The following morning the partners met to work on the tasks of Work Package 3, with an emphasis on dissemination. During the group work session, partners reviewed project deliverables, such as concepts and experiences, marketing materials, and pilot lessons, and discussed what they considered to be most important to communicate to each target group. After short presentations by the groups, there was a joint review of the event calendar, to ensure that all partners know their responsibilities, before Janina wrapped up the meeting.  

The local speciality Solyanka soup with rye garlic toasts was served for lunch. The local rye bread is praised by tourists and the rye toasts melted in our mouths. After lunch there was time for farewell and departure. The bus departed for Riga and the Novia team headed towards the port of Ventspils, where we were warmly welcomed by the whole team of Visit Ventspils. We learnt that Ventspils is a family-friendly and safe city with an abundance of versatile leisure activities. On our way back to Riga airport we still had time to stop at Tukums, where Aiga Meri showed us around her hometown.

Our heartfelt thanks to Anna Upsava och Aiga Meri from Kurzeme Planning Region for excellent arrangements and a warm welcome. You made a serious effort to show us the sea, the beaches and the picturesque countryside. Our extended thank you goes to our host at Camping Melnsils, Roberts Ādams Lagzdiņš.

Until we all meet again. 

Sources

Ance Nature House, https://www.visitventspils.com/en/story/ance-nature-house/, Accessed 14.11.2025

Reseskildringen har godkänts för publicering av Novias redaktionsråd 24.11.2025.

ISSN: 2670-028X