On October 9th at 10:00 AM, the annual tourism conference “Recipe for Tourism Development: Sustainability, Responsibility, Safety” will take place at Turība University. The focus of the conference will be on safe, responsible, and sustainable tourism, examining the topic from both the traveler’s and service provider’s perspectives.

In the first part of the conference, industry professionals and international guest lecturers will share the latest trends, experience stories, and future challenges. Topics will cover sustainability and digitalization issues, work environment, as well as international perspectives from Turkey, Austria, and Bulgaria:

• Inga Kavaca, owner and manager of Vanilla Travel and board member of ALTA, will introduce how a YouTube podcast can serve as an effective communication tool to encourage responsible and sustainable travel.
• Rita Auziņa, Chairwoman of the Board at A/S Lido and board member of the Latvian Hotel and Restaurant Association (LVRA), will share the story “When giants adapt: the survival story of dinosaurs”.
• Līga Vite, HR director of Mogotel Hotel Group, will present the topic “Check-in at the workplace – stranger or welcome guest?”
• Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yanislav Zhelev (Burgas Free University, Bulgaria) will present “Technological approaches and learning solutions for successful tourism studies” (in English).
• Prof. Dr. Zeki Demir (Duzce University, Turkey) will speak on “Sustainable nature-based tourism development tools” (in English).
• Prof. MMag. Dr. Harald Friedl (FH JOANNEUM University of Applied Sciences, Austria) will focus on “Flying into heaven or hell? Academic travelers as role models for a sustainable future” (in English).

In the afternoon, masterclasses for LVRA member educational institution lecturers will be held, where:

• Andris Kalniņš, LVRA president and chairman of the board at Riga Islande Hotel, will introduce the latest trends in hospitality in Latvia and the Baltics;
• Rita Auziņa, Chairwoman of the Board at A/S Lido and LVRA board member, will discuss the importance of motivation for ensuring hospitality quality;
• Gita Seņka, leader of the EU project “TSSTrip: Innovations in Tourism Safety and Sustainability Training through Academic and Industry Cooperation,” will highlight innovations in tourism safety and sustainability training.

The conference is organized by the Latvian Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators and the Latvian Hotel and Restaurant Association in cooperation with Turība University’s International Tourism Faculty and the European Union project “TSSTrip: Innovations in Tourism Safety and Sustainability Training through Academic and Industry Cooperation.”

Registration for the conference is open until October 3rd by sending an application letter to stf@turiba.lv

The conference will be held on October 9th from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM at Turība University Conference Hall. Languages of the event: English and Latvian.

The conference is supported by: Paynt, Mogotel Hotel Group, Riga Islande Hotel, Cēsu Alus, BHRS, Lido.