On 26–27 May 2026, the final international conference of the Interreg VI-A Latvia-Lithuania Programme 2021 – 2027 project WaterWays took place in Dreverna, Klaipėda district. The event, titled “From Rivers to Lakes: Water Tourism Opportunities & Experiences in Latvia and Lithuania”, gathered representatives of municipalities, tourism organisations, entrepreneurs, NGOs and other stakeholders from both countries.
During the first day of the conference, participants learned about the project’s achievements, current trends in water tourism and successful examples from Latvia and Lithuania. Key highlights included presentations on WaterWays project results, water tourism development in Lithuania, and the Gîtes de France experience in organising nature-based tourism. A panel discussion focused on safe and green tourism, community involvement and opportunities to extend the tourism season.
The second day was dedicated to field visits, allowing participants to explore several project-related sites in the Klaipėda district: the Dreverna waterways, Agluonėnai and Lazdininkai ponds, the educational programme in Strykiai, and the creative tourism site “Darbėnai glowing swings park”. The visits showcased infrastructure improvements and practical solutions for diversifying water tourism products.
The event demonstrated that cross-border cooperation plays a crucial role in developing sustainable water tourism. Participants returned with new ideas, contacts and inspiration to continue strengthening the attractiveness and accessibility of water tourism in both countries.
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
