Minutes from the meeting of the  UBC Commission on Tourism

 Jurmala, 27-28 September 2006

During the period of 27-29 September an annual meeting of the Commission on Tourism Union of Baltic Cities was held in Jurmala, Latvia . The meeting was devoted to a debate on Commission’s work during the last year as well as to presentation of the actions planned for the next year.

The attending guests were welcomed by Mayor of Jurmala, Mr Raimonds Munkevics, in person. He was logistically supported by the workers of the Department of Tourism and Foreign Affairs from the local town hall, namely Mrs Gunta Uspele, Department Head, her Deputy Mrs Alexandra Pugina and Mrs Elina Brigmane. The Jurmala meeting was attended by 14 delegates of UBC member cities from 6 countries – Finland, Norway, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia and Poland.  

The sessions were chaired by Mr Ryszard Zdrojewski – The Chairman of the Commission on Tourism Union of Baltic Cities, who is also the director of the Department of Development and Foreign Cooperation Municipality of Koszalin.  

At the beginning all participants shortly introduced themselves and their cities. Than Mrs Gunta Uspele took the floor and spoke, on behalf of the hosts, about development of tourist infrastructure, spa history and the biggest attractions of Jurmala. The next presentation made by Mr Ryszard Zdrojewski pertained to the CoT activities report for the last year. He presented the report from Commission’s working meeting held in May 2006 in Koszalin, the adopted new Commission’s objectives and the projects concerning tourism that had been commenced at that time.  

Then, particular participants were presenting the achievements in tourism of the cities represented by them. Furthermore, problems hampering development of tourism, as well as actions and projects taken up, were presented. Questions were asked and some issues were being discussed on the ongoing basis. The following persons then took floor: Ronny Andersen (Kristiansand, Norway), Liisa Lemmetyinen (Turku, Finland), Aivar Nigol (Võru, Estonia), Triin Toompuu (Haapsalu, Estonia), Eda Toomsalu (Pärnu, Estonia), Irena Satkauskiene (Palanga, Lithuania ), Liutauras Kraniauskas (Klaipėda, Lithuania) and Davis Kalnins (Liepāja, Latvia).  

In the following part of the programme Mr Ryszard Zdrojewski presented accomplishment of two projects – the International Competition of Knowledge about Poland and Scandinavia and Fotosuch-Qiuzfahrt. He announced also continuation and development of those projects next year as well as publication of the UBC member cities information tourist centres catalogue financed by the Commission. During further discussions use of the EU funds, that would be available in 2007 instead of the Interreg initiative, was considered. The cross-border cooperation is supposed to become a new third objective of the European cohesion policy named „European Territorial Cooperation”.  

Then Mr Ryszard Zdrojewski replied questions concernign UBC structure and Commission work. A proposal was put forward for the next working meeting of the Commission to be held in March or April next year and the annual meeting to be held in September 2007.

The Commission attended to a number of study visits that enriched the meeting sessions with touristic practice dimension. Various aspects of tourist activities seen from the perspective of the institutions visited were being discussed at particular sites. The Commission visited the following places in Jurmala: Dzintari Concert Hall, Jurmala City Tourist Information Centre, Jurmala SPA Hotel, Baltic Beach SPA Hotel, Art. Theatre, Livu Aquapark and Kemeri National Park.  

It was fixed during the meeting that the Commission on Tourism Union of the Baltic Cities would turn to all sea-side members cities with an appeal to take efforts to obtain the „Blue Flag” status for their beaches. The Union representing cities are supposed to lead the way in implementation of high quality standards and should set a good example for other cities located on the Baltic coast. The authors of the appeal are convinced that clean and safe beaches are one of the most important factors having impact on development of tourism in the Baltic Sea Region.