On 8 October 2026, the Director of Riga Management College (RMK), Jevgenija Dehtjare, lecturer Ludmila Bavrina, and students Jānis Zariņš, Anastasija Uļjanova, Amanda Ieviņa-Kaša, Alise Klimkāne, and Laura Eberharde participated in the conference “Tourism Development Recipe: How to Make It More Diverse, Accessible, and Inclusive?”, held at Turība University in Riga.
The conference was organised by the Association of Latvian Travel Agents and Operators (ALTA) in cooperation with the Faculty of International Tourism at Turība University, the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Latvia (LVRA), and the Riga Planning Region.
During the conference, RMK students and staff learned about current trends and challenges in the tourism and hospitality industry. Particular attention was given to accessibility and inclusive tourism, the contribution of tourism to local community development, career opportunities in the hospitality industry, and the prospects for slow tourism development in Latvia.
RMK staff also had the opportunity to participate in workshops specifically organised for lecturers from educational institutions. The workshops addressed tourism development trends in Latvia and the Baltic States, future prospects for Latvia’s tourism industry, and the importance of accessibility in creating an inclusive environment.
Participation in the Tourism Ideas Hackathon was a particularly valuable experience for RMK students. Working together with students from other Latvian higher education institutions, they addressed practical challenges in the hospitality industry. The teams were tasked with developing proposals on how a hospitality business could best organise the arrival and stay of a national football team, taking into account guests’ needs, high-quality service, and a positive guest experience.
The hackathon provided students with an opportunity to apply the knowledge gained during their studies, develop creative thinking, problem-solving and teamwork skills, and exchange ideas and experiences with students from other higher education institutions.
Participation in such events is an important part of the RMK learning experience, supporting students’ professional development, strengthening the connection between education and tourism industry practice, and providing opportunities to stay informed about current industry trends.
We sincerely thank our students for their enthusiasm, active participation in the conference, and willingness to gain new knowledge and professional experience!