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 13th century, and a part of the Hanseatic league from the 14th 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 13th 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 16th 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