For the last two years, Directorate of Venta Regional Park, Admistration of Akmenė District Municipality, Admistration of Mažeikiai District Municipality, Mažeikiai Tourism and Business Information Center, Skrunda Local Municipality, Saldus municipal agency “Saldus Tourism Information, Culture and Sport Center”, Kuldiga Local Municipality, Kurzeme Tourism association has been implementing project “Visit Venta” No. LLI-293 (ViVa) under the INTERREG V-A Latvia-Lithuania Programme 2014-2020.

This project combines two important areas: the preservation and sustainable use of natural and cultural heritage sites and tourism. The aim of the project was to improve the water tourism infrastructure on the banks of the Venta River and increase the number of tourist stays in the project partner territories (in Lithuania – Akmenė and Mažeikiai districts, in Latvia – Skrunda, Saldus and Kuldiga regions).

New water tourism infrastructure

During the project water tourism infrastructure in Lithuania – Latvia border region was improved. Properly equipped stopping places  with the small architecture such  benches, tables, gazebos, wc, fireplaces was built in 10 locations in Akmenė region and 6 stopping places and 19 river marks (information signs) in Mažeikiai region. Updated 7 information stands about the natural and cultural heritage were set up near Venta river.

Two kayak stopping places  with bench, arbour, bin (trash cans), WC, information stands were built in Nīgrande and Kalni in Saldus region. Interactive stand where tourist can found information about locals events, advertisments was acquired and installed  in Skrunda. Also, “Ventas stega curonica” sculpture was built near Venta In Skrunda.

E-services for the project

For the convenience of tourists, a website www.visitventa.lt has been created. Anyone interested in kayaking or just looking for information on attractions in the Venta River region can find a lot of useful information on the website and plan a kayak trip for themselves. The website provides information not only on places of interest, but also on kayak stops with the aforementioned infrastructure, as well as places to eat and to stay. For the latest updates follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/visitventa

Two mobile apps for tourists were created:

• “Visit Venta” (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=voldemaraspilvinis.venta) to access information from the website more conveniently
• Venta Trip game – attractive kid’s game to ecourage to discover Venta river objects, monuments, landmarks and other things to be seen. http://visitkuldiga.com/celojums-pa-ventu/

Three promotional videos were created: one about places in Lithuania near Venta river, the second one about sigthseeing places near river Venta in Latvia and the third one both about Lithuania and Latvia. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrudwh1wpz8SOJ1_pVCYAqw

New water tourism route

In August 2019, project partners organized a four-day kayak trip as a part of the project activities to try out the newly installed water tourism route in Venta River. The trip started on 6 August, 2019  in Papilė, Lithuania and ended in Kuldīga.

In order to encourage people not only to go kayaking in Venta River, but also to visit the sights in the partner territories, the project partners came up with a game. Tourists who collect five stamps by visiting the objects marked in the leaflet and visiting the Mažeikiai Tourism and Business Information Center can rent three paddles for three hours for free. The partners hope that this will encourage tourists to be more interested in the history and nature of the country.

Mažeikiai tourism and business center has bought 3 and Kuldiga municipality 18 Stand Up & Paddle boats for visitors. 42 life jackets of various sizes have been bought for tourist safety. For tourist safety in Ventas rumba RIB Type boat has been bought.

Surveillance system and one video surveillance camera was placed near Kuldiga’s museum in order to observe and protect ”Ventas rumba” monument from various factors that could potentially damage it.  As well, surveillance system and two cameras has been placed in a pathway on the left shore of Venta.

Skrunda municipality and Directorate of Venta regional Park has bought two drones designed to capture the most beautiful views of the Venta River from a bird’s eye view.

Partners participate in tourism fairs

Project partners presented Venta River tourism route in two of the biggest tourism fairs in the Baltics: BALTTOUR 2019 in Riga and ADVENTUR 2019 in Vilnius.

To increase the visibility of the project, the partners prepared articles for local and national newspapers: “Vakarų Lietuva”, “Kuldīgas Vēstis”, “Santarvė” and“Saldus zeme”.

Due to global Covid-19pandemic planned Media & Familiarization trip from Lithuania to Latvia had to be cancelled.