Project No. C034
From 20 to 22 April, 2026, representatives of the Kurzeme Planning Region travelled to Hiiumaa Island in Estonia to take part in a partner meeting within the Interreg Baltic Sea Region project “Light in the Dark” (Project No. C034).
The working sessions took place at the Hiiumaa Museum’s Long House and Partsi Mill, where partners reviewed progress so far and discussed the next steps. This included going through upcoming events where project results will be presented, as well as aligning on planned activities and overall progress. Initial discussions also touched upon the possible continuation of the project under “Light in the Dark 2.0”.
One of the key topics was the project’s AI-based digital tool. Partners shared feedback from the testing phase, discussed user experience, and explored practical improvements to make the tool more useful for tourism entrepreneurs developing off-season offers.
As part of the programme, participants took part in a hands-on workshop to test the tourism product “Hiiu Gourmet” in Käina. The experience included activities such as wild plant use and butter-making, while also providing an opportunity to assess the product’s structure, quality, and potential for the off-season.
The visit also included meetings with local entrepreneurs and site visits to Orjaku Harbour, the Sõera Open Air Museum, Partsi Mill, and the Vaemla wool factory. These visits offered direct insight into how local businesses operate outside the peak season, the challenges they face, and how they adapt their services.
Overall, the visit provided valuable insights, strengthened cooperation between partners, and helped move the project forward in a practical and focused way.
All project tools and additional information are available here:
https://lightinthedarkbsr.eu/
Beta version of the AI idea generator:
https://lightinthedark.bojaco.com/
Project “Light in the Dark”
Light in the Dark is an Interreg Baltic Sea Region project aimed at developing innovative experiences to extend and create new seasons beyond the traditional summer season. The Challenge Inventory survey is conducted in all participating countries: Finland, Sweden, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. It is aimed at SME’s in the Northern Baltic Sea region and explores the interest of small and medium-sized businesses in expanding their operations beyond the traditional summer season as well as the challenges they face regarding seasonal variations in tourist flows.
More about the project: https://www.kurzemesregions.lv/en/projects/tourism/light-in-the-dark/
Project manager:
Anna Elizabete Upsava
+371 26369876
anna.upsava@kurzemesregions.lv
