TOURISM COMMISSION IN VILNIUS

Finally the Commissions meeting in Vilnius took place. About 30 members and others took the chance of meeting in Lithuanian "Jerusalem". The meeting was hosted by the City of Vilnius, and so it was opened by the Deputy Mayor Mr Vakarinas on the 25 th of April.

Mr Dahl, Kalmar, the Chairman of the Commission since 1999, held an informal meeting. Especially invited to the meeting was Mr Löwendahl from the BSR Interreg IIC/IIIB Office in Karlskrona, informing the participants of the new EU Interreg IIIB programme. Since this is an important aspect of the forthcoming development all over the BSR, the lecture of Mr Löwendahl initiated many questions and a rewarding discussion was born.

The meeting focused on the future of the Commission and its work, and as a result of this discussion it was found that there is still a want and a need for training and development activities in tourism. The activities of the Baltic Tourism Academy within the EU-project "Baltic City Tourism" and the further development of the planned exchange programme was presented by the secretary of the Commission, Mr Viktor Rydell, Kalmar. Mr Rydell also presented the financial report for the year of 2000 and the status of the Commissions budget.

A partly new steering committee for the Commission was elected, consisting of representatives from the following cities:

• Kalmar (Chair), Mr Kyrre Dahl
• Palanga (Vice-Chair), Mr Martynas Uzpelkis
• Rostock, Mr Roland Methling
• Kaunas, contact person not set.

Finally there was an opening given for Gdynia to take part in the steering committee after discussion with the Gdynia City Board. Officially the Steering Committee starts its work this October.

The new constellation of the steering committee wishes to thank the City of Vilnius, and especially the Vice Mayor and the organisers at the Vilnius Tourist Office, Mr Gintaras Aleksiunas with staff, for an excellent organisation. It was all extremely satisfactory. Thank You!