International Conference “Green Railways: Connecting Routes, Experiences and Tourism Marketing” Discusses Sustainable Tourism Development

EE-LV00057 – Green Railway II

On 29–30 June 2026, an international conference entitled “Green Railways: Connecting Routes, Experiences and Tourism Marketing” took place in Latvia and Estonia, bringing together tourism entrepreneurs, tour operators, representatives of local municipalities, and international experts from Latvia, Estonia, Italy, Poland, and Türkiye to discuss sustainable tourism development and opportunities for cross-border cooperation in the development of former railway lines, known as Green Railways. During the event, the results of the “Green Railway II” project were presented, showcasing new cycling tourism opportunities, innovative tourism products, and infrastructure solutions in Latvia and Estonia.

The first day of the conference, held at Ķipēnu Manor in Limbaži Municipality, introduced participants to the tourism offer of the Vidzeme region and opportunities for sustainable tourism development. Local entrepreneurs shared their experience and showcased a diverse range of tourism products, including cycling routes, hiking trails, wellness tourism, horseback riding, family-friendly activities with huskies, and farm visits. International experts, meanwhile, presented European trends in the development of green routes and highlighted the potential of cycling tourism.

The programme continued with a panel discussion focusing on cooperation between tourism service providers and tour operators, exploring ways to further develop local offers into competitive tourism products. In the afternoon, conference participants took part in an e-bike ride along the Green Railway route between Ķipēnu Manor and Limbaži, experiencing its infrastructure and tourism potential firsthand. The day concluded with a visit to the Niedrāju–Pilkas Bog Nature Trail, where participants learned about the bog’s unique natural values, the development of the trail, and its role in creating a sustainable nature tourism offer.

The second day of the conference took place at the Mõisaküla Cultural Centre in Estonia and focused on Latvia–Estonia cross-border cooperation in sustainable tourism development and the long-term benefits of the “Green Railway II” project. Participants were introduced to several newly developed routes and their tourism offers, including the Valga–Ape, Mõisaküla–Rūjiena–Limbaži, Alūksne–Gulbene–Ieriķi, and Liepāja–Pāvilosta sections. During the panel discussion, experts discussed how these routes could be further developed into attractive and commercially viable tourism products.

During the second part of the conference, participants visited a newly created accommodation facility built inside a former railway carriage, which has also been adapted for people with reduced mobility and will soon welcome its first guests in Mõisaküla. Participants were also given the opportunity to try out a newly acquired rail bike (draisine), located next to the accommodation and available to all visitors to the town by prior booking through the Mõisaküla Museum. The second conference day concluded with a short hike along the Green Railway route from Mõisaküla to Rūjiena, reaching the Latvia–Estonia border. As one of the newest cross-border Green Railway routes, it provided participants with the opportunity to experience the project’s achievements firsthand and to witness the potential of former railway corridors for sustainable and active tourism development.

The international conference became an important platform for exchanging experience and establishing new cooperation contacts, while strengthening the shared vision of Latvia and Estonia to develop Green Railway routes into a competitive cross-border tourism product.

Project manager

Aija Neilande
+371 26 147 139
aija.neilande@kurzemesregions.lv