Military heritage in the Baltic States is becoming an increasingly significant area of tourism; however, a complex question arises — how to tell the sensitive history in a modern and responsible way, reports the program "900 Seconds" (TV3).
Currently, the Latvian Rural Tourism Association "Lauku ceļotājs" has gathered around 1000 sites in Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia where travelers can learn about the military heritage of the region, said the association's president, Asnate Ziemele, in an interview with TV3.
"The main challenge is how to tell and how to interpret. Our society is very sensitive when it comes to the heritage of the Soviet period, which is also part of our history," Ziemele noted.
As reported, experts on military heritage in the Baltics are meeting at an international conference in Jurmala to discuss how to narrate complex histories in tourism.
On March 25 and 26, an international conference titled "Military Heritage Tourism: Innovative Approaches and Cooperation in the Baltic States" is taking place in Jurmala, with more than 110 representatives from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, Norway, and Poland participating. Attendees are discussing modern approaches to developing tourism related to military heritage.
Military heritage in the Baltic States is a significant tourist resource. The region boasts hundreds of military history sites — from bunkers and fortifications to military towns, museums, and Cold War-era sites. At the same time, this heritage is often associated with complex and sensitive themes, such as the experiences of wars, occupation, and the consequences of totalitarian regimes.
The question remains relevant — how to preserve this heritage, interpret it professionally, and make it understandable, attractive, and accessible to society. As part of joint projects, in collaboration with historians, a military heritage tourism portal www.militaryheritagetourism.info has been created, which includes over 1000 sites in Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. The portal also contains the context of historical events and figures, memories, a map of sites, and examples of tourist routes.
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