The Commission on Tourism was established in 1996 to promote tourism in the Baltic Sea Region. The Commission focuses on education and development of sustainable tourism. Chairman of the Commission on Tourism since 3.10.2013 is Mr Waldemar Sypiański, Ustka.

Commission goals

• integration of the Baltic Sea Region communities through better understanding each other, exchange of tourist information and support of tourist traffic
• better coordination of tourism in the Baltic Sea Region through creation of a cooperation network between the cities, development of interpersonal relationships and use of the Internet
• permanent development of the tourist infrastructure through initiation of projects based on the European Union programmes
• promotion of active and healthy lifestyle in which tourism plays a significant role

Last meeting of the Commission:

Koszalin, 4-5 October 2012

Results of the tourist competition for UBC cities ( 32.5 KB )

Baltic Sea Region - Perfect Tourism Zone ( 26.67 MB )

Meeting in Rakvere (May 2010) Minutes from the meeting
Meeting in Liepāja (April 2009) Minutes from the meeting are here ( 79.53 KB )
Meeting in Szczecin (October 2008) Minutes from the meeting are here
Meeting in Gdańsk (April 2008) Minutes from the meeting are here
Meeting in Palanga (March 2007) Minutes from the meeting here
Meeting in Jurmala (September 2006) Minutes from the meeting here
Meeting in Koszalin (May 2006) Minutes from the meeting here
Meeting in Kalmar (November 2004) Minutes from the meeting here
Meeting in Cēsis (August 2003) Minutes from the meeting here

From the left: Viktor Rydell, Secretary CoT; Romy Sommer ANIMARE; Kyrre Dahl, Chairman CoT; Valda Veilande, Cēsis TIC; Martins Malcenieks, Cēsis Regional Council.

The Commission on Tourism met in Cēsis, Latvia in August 2003. Among the news from the Commissions’ meeting this time was the election of a new steering committee of the Commission. Kalmar still chairs the Commission presupposed there is an approval from the Kalmar City Council. The other members of the steering committee are: Palanga, Lithuania; Liepāja, Latvia and Jurmala, Latvia. The steering committee will be responsible for the Commission on Tourism activities for the next two years: from October 2003 – October 2005. Please see the full minutes of the Commission on Tourism meeting in Cēsis, Latvia: Click here! ( 699.02 KB )

The Commission on Tourism's meeting in Palanga in Aug/Sep 2002 concluded that the most important issue for its work is education (see also Commission goals above). In the Commission's action plan for the coming years the chairman therefore would like to stress trainee activities. An exchange program for persons working within the field of tourism will be formed. That will give the participants opportunities to learn from sister organisations and cities by living and working in other countries for a while, both for learning languages and the local culture, as well as getting to know the highlights in the region. It is also important to build personal networks, which again is necessary for a closer cooperation. The meeting in Palanga decided to form a partner search forum through the Commission on Tourism secretariat for the Tourism Exchange Programme development.

Interreg IIIB; ANCIENTIMES

A new Interreg IIIB application was handed in on the 1st of October 2002. The project is named “ANCIENTIMES in the Baltic Sea Region…” and focuses on sustainable development of historical & cultural touristic physical sites in the BSR. Research in history, investments and marketing are parts of the project. Application was approved by the European Commission in December 2002 and started in March 2003. The present members of the project partly financed by Interreg IIIB are: Kalmar, SE (LP), Medieval Centre, DK, Lofotr Viking Museum, NO and Slawonic Village Passentin, DE. From the Phare side has so far Cesis, Latvia been approved and an application from Malbork, Poland is to be handed in soon. To read more about the project, please visit www.bsrinterreg.net ANCIENTIMES is a project approved in the Third Call. Would your city like to be part of the ANCIENTIMES project, please contact the Commission.

Interreg IIIB; Baltic Welcome Center

After the Baltic City Tourism/HOLM final conference in Wismar in September 2001, one could say that one of the greatest impact from the project on the individual partners is the personal network built up by the participants during these years. This co-operation has so far lead to many things, but the most obvious and direct result could be the new Interreg IIIB application granted on the 19th of December 2001, "Baltic Welcome Center". Partners so far from Interreg side: Kalmar and Växjö, SE, Halden, NO, Turisme Region Syd, DK and Schwerin, DE. For the Tacis and Phare side the following partners have been approved and are now taking part in the project activities: Kaliningrad, RU, Narva, EE Ivangorod; RU and Cesis, LV. We are now awaiting the result of the application from Palanga, LT. Please read more on: www.bsrinterreg.net Baltic Welcome Center was approved in the First Call.

Baltic Tourism Academy...

The Baltic Tourism Academy seminar series (January-May 2001) travelled around the Baltic Sea, focusing on specific topics concerning working with events. Route: Kalmar (event marketing), Karlskrona (the idea behind), Tallinn (financing), Gdynia (organisation), Vilnius (advertising), Rostock (sponsoring) and finally Nyköbing F. (effects from an event). The results from the seminar series are concluded in an educational CD-ROM. For more information, please visit www.balticevents.com or contact the Commission.

... and Follow-up.

A follow up of the Baltic Tourism Academy project is asked for at many forums. A project application to the Interreg IIIB programme is almost completed and waiting for submission. If your city is interested in being part of the Baltic Tourism Academy II project, please contact the Commission.