On 22 July 2026, Lielborne Manor hosted the Interreg VI-A Latvia–Lithuania programme project WaterWays (LL‑00011) seminar “Water Tourism Trends in Latgale”, bringing together tourism entrepreneurs, boat rental operators, municipal specialists and tourism information centre representatives from across the region. The event aimed to strengthen water tourism development, introduce the possibilities of the upesoga.lv platform, and foster cooperation among industry stakeholders.
Participants learned about the water tourism potential of Latgale, presented by the Latgale Tourism Association, and explored the Baltic water tourism platform upesoga.lv, introduced by the Kurzeme Planning Region. The platform provides comprehensive information on more than 200 rivers, 400 lakes and 300 boat rental operators across Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.
A highlight of the seminar was the experience sharing session featuring local entrepreneurs:
- Beibuki Boat Rental shared practical insights into service development;
- LivLaiv presented the advantages and challenges of BEAVERS canoe boats, based on seven years of experience;
- Mučas Boat Rental emphasized the importance of small rivers in regional tourism and the need for improved infrastructure.
Discussions focused on key topics such as small river accessibility, safety, infrastructure improvements, digital tools, and cross-sector cooperation. Participants agreed that developing small rivers is essential for sustainable regional growth and strengthening Latgale’s tourism competitiveness.
The seminar was organized within the Interreg VI-A Latvia–Lithuania Programme 2021–2027 project “Development of a Water Route Network in Latvia and Lithuania, Expanding the Cross-Border Tourism Product www.riverways.eu” (WaterWays).
More about the project
The WaterWays project (LL‑00011) aims to strengthen the cross‑border water tourism network between Latvia and Lithuania, expanding routes and improving accessibility for residents and visitors. The project WaterWays, or “Development of the Water Route Network in Latvia and Lithuania by Expanding the Cross-Border Tourism Product www.riverways.eu” (LL-00011), is being implemented with the support of the Interreg Latvia – Lithuania Programme!
Official project website: https://latlit.eu/theprojects/waterways/
Information prepared by:
Viktorija Reine
Project Manager of the Kurzeme Planning Region
Phone: +371 28232978
Email: viktorija.reine@kurzemesregions.lv
