Kategoria: Projects

Tour4Youth project is a teamwork effort between Satakunta University of Applied Sciences, Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences, Kurzeme Planning Region and Pärnumaa Vocational Education Centre, funded by Interreg programmes.

Interreg programmes support the integration of border areas and wider, cross-border cooperation areas, as well as the creation and strengthening of networks between regions and cities. (“Interreg programmes | Structural funds”) Tour4Youth supports young people between 15 to 24 years of age to have career opportunities in the field of Tourism, Hospitality, and restaurant sectors by providing career counselling and opportunities via internships and employment events such as recruitment fairs and online events.

Tour4Youth project group had a project follow-up meeting in a municipality called Valmiera, in Vidzeme region of Latvia. We had about 10 to 12 degrees and mostly sunshine during our trip. Our entourage was formed from project manager Tiina, project researcher Teija and tourism teacher Jonna.

We took the train from Pori to Helsinki via Tampere on a Monday morning, flew from Helsinki to Riga in the late afternoon. From Riga bus station a bus ride towards Valmiera began. We travelled through Latvia in the darkening evening for two hours, so no sightseeing on this bus ride. Autumn forest looks a lot like in Finland, except with a lot of maple trees and other leafy trees instead of conifers. Last project meeting in the spring 2024 was in Kuldīga, closer to the seaside, this time we headed more towards the centre of Latvia.

Arriving to our hotel late in the evening after 12 hours of travelling, the only thing any of us could think was sleeping and resting. A quick bite fetched from local Rimi and looking forward to next day meeting.

Valmiera is one of the oldest cities in Latvia built by Livonian order in the 13^th century, and a part of the Hanseatic league from the 14^th century. You can still see remains of a castle wall and cellar as a part of museum, The whole city was destroyed in 1702 war. The city later became the cultural and economic centre of Northern Vidzeme with also strong emphasis on sports events. We stayed in a sports hotel, but unfortunately had no time for doing any sports.

We got to keep the project meetings close to beautiful river Gauja in Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences. Sun was shining to honour our meeting for almost the entire trip. It was pleasant to meet project partners face to face again, some new faces too. We worked together as a team pitching ideas about the Introduction days for Tour4Youth, targeted events for participants and employers, recruitment fairs and the dissemination days. Many exciting days coming up in each country; Finland, Estonia and Latvia! The meeting days went quickly by, our only evening in Valmiera even quicker, but luckily, we got a chance to explore the city on Tuesday afternoon while walking to our evening dinner destination of a restaurant and brewery called Valmiermuiža Craft Brewery. Got to taste some biscuits made of malt and discuss about differences in food culture between countries.

After the second meeting day was over, we were lucky to get a ride from Aija and Agnese from Valmiera to Riga, which took two hours. Driving during sunlight we got to see the countryside in Latvia with cows in the fields and forest in the colours of autumn. After gathering up strength in our next hotel, we went shopping for homecoming gifts and later summoned the troops to have dinner at the old town.

Riga old town is found in the UNESCO World Heritage site list since 1997. Riga has been the major centre and port for the Hanseatic league and its history starts also from the beginning of the 13^th century. The core of the city is still from medieval times, built through centuries to be stunning in architecture and cultural heritage.

Teija and Jonna had an opportunity to explore briefly the church of Saint Peter´s church, which is built already in 1209, but also been reconstructed in history three times. Nowadays an Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia, strongly influenced by reformation period in the 16^th century. During second world war the church faced much damage and was restored in 1954. A lift has been built to the tower in the hight of astonishing 123 metres. From the peak one can see all over Riga, which once more left a powerful desire to visit Riga with better time to explore.

Travelling home took a bit less than arriving, but back in Pori we discovered autumn was a bit colder and less leaves in the trees already, than in Latvia. Next travels during spring 2025 to Pärnu with the same entourage. So excited to see also Estonia during this project.

Meanwhile, doing our best to support young people getting employment in Tourism and Hospitality sector. If you fit to the category, or you have vacancies for internships, please be in contact via website https://tour4youth.eu/ and follow us in Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TourForYouth.

Text: Teija Nuurma, Researcher, SAMK Center for Tourism Business Development
Pictures: Teija Nuurma and Jonna Huuhka

The Tour4Youth project is a team effort between Satakunta University of Applied Sciences, Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences, Kurzeme Planning Region and Pärnumaa Vocational Education Centre, funded by the Interreg Central Baltic programme. In general, Interreg programmes support the integration of border areas and wider, cross-border cooperation areas, as well as the creation and strengthening of networks between regions and cities. (“Interreg programmes | Structural funds”).

The Tour4Youth project supports young people between 15 to 24 years of age by offering career opportunities in the fields of tourism, hospitality and restaurant sector by providing career management skills, personal coaching, career counselling and opportunities via internships and employment events such as recruitment fairs and online events. The aim is to provide sustainable, quality careers for the youth in the field.  

The Tour4Youth project group had a project follow-up meeting in May 2024 in a municipality called Kuldīga, in Kurzeme (Courland) region of Latvia. Spring was catching up after a long winter so quickly, that it seemed like we jumped from winter straight to summer when travelling from Pori in Finland to Riga in Latvia. Our entourage included our project manager Tiina, project experts Jenna and Teija and tourism lecturer Jonna. 

We took off with a small plane from the tiny airport of Pori to Helsinki early in the morning and arrived in Riga only a few hours later, but our journey was just beginning. From Riga bus station a bus ride towards the medieval city began. We travelled through the beautiful and serene region of Jūrmala and probably all of us wondered in awe, how charming it would be to be here on a vacation and take a rest by the seaside on a beach after the dark winter. I was amazed just how close to Riga and easily accessible this paradise is and how I hadn’t fully acknowledged its existence before now. After all, Jūrmala has been famous for its spas and vacation destinations already from the 19^th century. 

The bus ride took over 3 hours, but the scenery was beautiful; it resembled the Finnish countryside a lot, but at the same time it was somehow different. When you take a bus from Pori to Helsinki, it takes about the same time as from Riga to Kuldīga, but in Finland the route goes through highways. Here we got to see small and unique villages, green and yellow fields, cows on the field and local people living their lives. Tourist season had not yet begun, so we had the perfect timing to visit the country. 

When we arrived in our hotel in the afternoon, we experienced once again similarities to our Satakunta towns. This time especially Old Rauma, an UNESCO world heritage site from 1991. Old Rauma is the largest well preserved wooden built city district in the Nordic countries. Kuldīga old town has been selected in 2023 to UNESCO’s list. The old town has sustained the sands of time better than Latvia’s other medieval cities, and its history dates to the beginning of the 13^th century. You can instantly feel calm and peaceful while strolling on the main street of the old city, admiring the architecture, window frames, beautiful churches, bridges, water elements and the atmosphere.  

On the first evening we visited the Venta Rapids, the widest waterfall in Europe (about 240 m). The river itself is called Venta and the waterfall rumbling across it, is named Ventas Rumba. As the waterfall is long in width, but not in height, wanderers can go and wade on the waterfall itself, or even take a refreshing shower under its cooling currents. You can best see the Rumba from a massive brick bridge, longest of the sort in Europe by the way.

Ventas Rumba is also known to be a pitstop for shoals of fish travelling up the river, but unfortunately, the time when the fish wonder upstream to mate had already passed. This sight would have been lovely to witness up close, but now it was left to another time.

Later we had dinner at a restaurant, and discovered we were sitting above The Alekšupīte canal. The canal was not much wider than the Rauma River back home, but it flowed through the old city right by the houses – and even under them. 

We got to keep the project meetings close to the town hall and next to the tourism information centre in the heart of the old town. It was pleasant to meet our project partners face to face and get to work together as a team pitching ideas and brainstorming. We had good insights on how young people respond to counselling in the project in different countries. Encouraging, guiding and sometimes gentle pushing is required in each country, however, each case has its nuances and might need tailoring.

The meeting days went by quickly, and the evenings even quicker, but luckily, we got a guided tour from KPR project manager Aija, where she told us more about the wonders of the old town. 

After the last meeting day was over, and after taking the three hours bus drive in afternoon traffic, we arrived back to Riga. After quickly rallying our strength, we summoned the troops for dinner in the old town and to watch the gut-wrenching hockey game between two mortal enemies: Finland and Sweden. Sadly, the suspenseful match ended to our disappointment in the Finnish team’s agonizing defeat. The pub accommodated both Swedes and Finns, who coexisted in peace, respectfully but loudly during the game. 

Riga old town is also found in the UNESCO World Heritage site list since 1997. Riga has been the major centre and port for the Hanseatic league and its history starts from the beginning of the 13^th century. The core of the city dates back to medieval times, built and maintained through centuries with respect to the stunning architecture and cultural heritage.

We had an opportunity to briefly explore the wonders of the streets before heading to the airport on our last day in Latvia. Being in a big city however was not as calm as in Kuldīga, as the tourists had already found their way there. Probably they thought the same about the picture snapping Finnish women. A longing to visit Latvia again was left within our hearts. 

Travelling back home took a bit longer than arriving due to delayed flights and longer waiting periods, but back in Pori we discovered spring had arrived in Finland too. Consequently, we were greeted by a mellow spring rain, which had luckily watered the plants. Next, the same entourage travels to a Tour4Youth project meeting to Estonia in the fall.  

Meanwhile, we continue doing our best to support young people reaching employment. If you fit to the category, or you have vacancies for internships, please be in contact via website https://tour4youth.eu/ and follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TourForYouth. 

Until next time! 

Text: Teija Nuurma, Researcher, SAMK Center for Tourism Business Development
Pictures: Jenna Turpeinen, Teija Nuurma and Jonna Huuhka

 

We are three bachelor’s degree students in International Tourism Management and as part of our project activity course, we have done a Cleaning Day at Kirjurinluoto. After evaluating our project, we decided to publish an article about acting responsibly towards nature and just a few basic things that you can do daily.

With just a few small lifestyle changes, you can protect the planet and live healthier lives! A single household or individual can make a big difference: the more people become environmentally conscious, the healthier our planet will be, and we can enjoy our tourist sites and parks in the future.

You can help the environment by picking up trash. Maybe next time when you are visiting Kirjurinluoto for example, you can look around to see if there is any trash that you can pick up and put in nearby trashcans. But be careful when picking up trash; make sure there are no dangerous pieces of trash that might hurt you. Aim to recycle clothes, glass, metal, plastic, and paper as often as possible. If your area offers local recycling points, use them. If your area doesn’t offer recycling points, take a trip to a recycling center near you.

Here are 3 tips on how you can act for a sustainable environment now and in the future:

1. Don’t trash

We are all responsible for our nature and environment.  Be responsible and put your trash in trashcans located in the area.

2. Avoid plastic items such as plastic bags, plastic bottles etc. 

Instead of buying plastic bags buy paper bags. When you go to the grocery store to buy food, you can also use your own bag, the ideal would then be an eco-friendly canvas bag.  Do not buy more plastic bags from the store for carrying. Also you can refill your plastic bottles instead of always buying new ones.

3. Shop at second-hand stores

Producing new goods consumes energy and produces packaging that causes even more trash. Save energy and natural resources by buying second-hand clothes. You can also buy for example a bike that is already used by someone. The second-hand bike can help the environment and impacts your wallet less.

There are so many ways that you can help the environment and make important choices!

Text and pictures: Suzan Haikonen, Matleena Knuutila and Anupama De Silva, first year International Tourism Management students