How Lithuania Is Reclaiming Cultural Spotlight

Good issues are available in small packages. This adage has withstood the take a look at of time past jewellery advertising and marketing. The newest fascinating cultural and geopolitical case examine is Lithuania. The Baltic nation of two.8 million individuals has been making highly effective international headlines lately. In April, it turned the primary European Union nation to sever energy ties with Russia. Earlier, the opening of the Taiwanese Consultant Workplace in Vilnius prompted a historic row with China. Fierce political independence is a part of its heritage.

By the late Center Ages, Lithuania was the biggest nation-state in Europe. One in all its most iconic landmarks is the Hill of Crosses, a surprising monument to the nation’s ongoing struggle for freedom. It was the primary Soviet republic to exit the USSR. Now, this “Jewel of the Baltics” is embarking on a appeal offensive to reintroduce itself on the worldwide stage, by itself phrases. The yr 2019 set a document for worldwide guests earlier than coronavirus halted cross-border journey. Locations past the mainstream tourism map are turning to tradition and vogue to innovate their affords.

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From Napa Valley to the Mediterranean, arts at massive are proving to be a major draw for vacationers. Vacationers arriving in Lithuania from any nation of the world will now not be topic to any COVID-19 administration necessities, no checks and questionnaires wanted. Sporting masks just isn’t necessary anymore, besides in medical amenities. With Kaunas serving as European Capital of Culture and Vilnius getting ready to rejoice its 700th anniversary, it’s a good time to think about a go to. To seek out out extra concerning the newest initiatives, I related with Olga Gončarova, Head of Tourism markets Division appearing as normal supervisor at Lithuania Travel. We talked about what brings individuals to this nook of the world and the way do native inventive communities redefine the notion of hospitality for our anxious zeitgeist.

How has Lithuania faired within the post-pandemic tourism panorama?

From 2019 to 2021, the variety of inbound vacationers decreased by 74%. Pre-pandemic, the market share of inbound and home tourism was virtually equally break up. As strict quarantine restrictions had been applied in 2020, home tourism elevated, taking over a considerably bigger market share. Roughly 79% of Lithuanians opted for prolonged holidays of their dwelling nation. Getting some contemporary air within the exuberant forests turned particularly common. Berry or mushroom choosing, strolling on specialised trails by way of strictly preserved swamps, tenting, or simply having a picnic close to one in all many lakes, Lithuanian individuals rediscovered nature-related actions. Additionally, through the pandemic, Vilnius turned one big open-air café! The town offered public areas to out of doors catering institutions at no cost. Now we’re completely happy to welcome the world.

Lithuania finds itself in a tense geopolitical neighborhood proper now. What ought to vacationers know to really feel protected throughout their go to?

As Lithuania is a member of the EU and NATO since 2004, security is inherently assured. We exhibit fixed assist for Ukraine with donations and humanitarian assist. Our nation empathizes with the Ukrainians’ craving for freedom, and solidarity is admittedly felt in every single place. Whereas a specific quantity of uncertainty due to geographical proximity to the invasion could also be comprehensible, in the end, it’s unfounded. I can say with confidence that presently it’s protected to work, journey and calm down in Lithuania. The European Travel Commission additionally confirms this standing of the Baltic states. We imagine that journey builds unity and peace, and fosters understanding between totally different individuals. Due to this fact, we’re getting ready intensively for the brand new tourism season.

What’s the most shocking or inspiring factor vacationers be taught once they go to Lithuania?

There are a number of issues talked about fairly generally by guests new to Lithuania. Firstly, how a lot distinctive nature the nation has! The 60-mile Curonian Spit is an environmentally delicate space that’s dwelling to uncommon and susceptible flora. Round a 3rd of Lithuania is forestland and Vilnius is without doubt one of the greenest cities on the planet. Vilnius Historic Centre protecting almost 360 acres was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage Listing in 1994. Regardless of invasions and partial destruction, it has preserved a powerful complicated of Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and classical buildings in addition to its medieval format. It is usually one in all few European capitals that permits sizzling air balloons to drift over the Previous City. The new air balloons dotting the sky above the capital each night have develop into an emblem of the town. This distinctive expertise is a part of many bucket lists. Secondly, persons are typically shocked to be taught that Lithuania was the final nation in Europe to transform to Christianity and has many areas that retain their pagan roots. For instance, the Kernavė archeological web site is on the UNESCO World Heritage listing.

Individuals could already be accustomed to Vilnius because the capital. What are among the must-see highlights all through the remainder of the nation?

Fascinated with our iconic cities, it’s unimaginable to decide on a “favourite little one,” so to talk. They’re all essential to Lithuanians however, similar to youngsters, they’ve distinctive traits. Vilnius represents the various vary of individuals and cultures. Maybe, the Užupis district is a real consultant of its free spirit. This tiny, self-declared Republic of Užupis started as an April Fools’ Day joke within the late ’90s. It nonetheless features as a hive of creativity and eccentricity. Kaunas is Lithuania’s second-biggest metropolis. Immediately recognizable from its intriguing synthesis of modernist interwar and Artwork Deco structure, it has been named the European Capital of Culture 2022. It additionally has some of the romantic locations in Lithuania. The Pažaislis Monastery is a real Seventeenth-century Baroque diamond protected by the Sisters of Saint Casimir. It was become a movie set in 2018 for the HBO mini-series Catherine the Nice with Helen Mirren. One other small however must-see vacation spot is located between three lakes. It’s well-known for a picturesque fifteenth century Trakai Island Castle, one in all a form in Europe. The port of Klaipėda is the Baltic metropolis, naturally main a extra laid-back lifestyle. There’s a huge variety of leisurely actions to get pleasure from and marvel on the Previous City which has retained the spirit of German functionalist, constructivist, and expressionist structure. A really energetic, sports-oriented metropolis, it acquired an award in 2019 for essentially the most formidable imaginative and prescient for sustainable mobility in a metropolis with a lot consideration paid to pedestrian, biking, and public transport infrastructure with correct adaptation for individuals with particular wants. We wish to welcome all.

How does vogue issue into the Lithuanian tourism enchantment?

Vogue right here is commonly related to Juozas Statkevičius, the primary Baltic designer to take part within the Haute Couture week in Paris in 2002. One other massive title is Agnė Kuzmickaitė who is known for her purposeful conceptuality and iconic butterfly symbols. Lietuvos Mada by Albrechtaitė-Lingienė Gintarė is a good guide on Lithuanian vogue. It incorporates a plethora of images for a global viewers. Sustainable vogue is a giant pattern. This turned obvious with the success of Vinted, a web based market the place individuals should purchase, promote, and trade new or second-hand items. It’s the first Lithuanian start-up to attain unicorn standing. The Stikliai Quarter within the coronary heart of Vilnius metropolis middle is dwelling to among the most influential jewelers, artists, and artisans within the nation. At all times intricately adorned for seasonal holidays, this neighborhood additionally affords a wide range of Lithuanian designer boutiques.

To paraphrase an iconic slogan: “Lithuania: is there an app for that?!” How is Lithuania participating with the digital applied sciences for the cultural and tourism sector?

The pandemic moved us to rethink our work on-line and enhance consumer expertise. Our web site Lithuania.travel is consistently up to date with fastidiously chosen details about Lithuanian cultural information. In recent times, each analysis and digitalization have develop into essential for the tourism trade. Open information is a prerequisite for trade development and a profitable transformation course of. One in all key tasks is the Tourism Data Dashboard. It tracks varied customer profile and spending information. Concurrently, an interactive map that highlights the most-visited vacationer hotspots is within the works. In 2022, we plan to implement a unified public database of all of the native vacationer websites (over 14 000 entries) the place every municipality can replace the related info. This is able to permit vacationers to entry all of the wanted particulars to plan their journey, saving time and lowering stress. The tourism sector is slowly recovering, and we imagine that the trade requires novel methods of fixing urgent challenges. Lithuania, a rustic that prides itself on the notion of co-creation, invitations innovators to hitch our TravelTech ecosystem, offering open information and providing situations for sandboxing concepts that may doubtlessly change the market. We wish to present companies with the chance to pilot these tasks in Lithuania in actual market situations with a view to scale sooner or later.

How does Lithuania match into a bigger worldwide arts agenda?

According to international developments, Lithuania has developed an curiosity in displaying the individuality of its cultural contributions. Although Lithuania is kind of small, it is rather wealthy in concepts recognized globally. Jurgis Mačiūnas, the Lithuanian American artist, is commonly considered the creator of the Fluxus movement when he proposed the title in 1961. Jonas Mekas was a Lithuanian American filmmaker and poet who was known as “the godfather of American avant-garde filmmaking” and incessantly referenced by iconic artists like Salvador Dali, Yoko Ono, and Marina Abramović. One other notable up to date instance is the Sun & Sea (Marina) opera by Lina Lapelytė with libretto by Vaiva Grainytė. It was introduced through the 2019 Venice Biennale and acquired the Golden Lion, the exhibition’s highest honor. As well as, Lithuania is dwelling to a bustling gastro scene, filled with distinctive dishes corresponding to kibinai — stuffed pastries — or the long-lasting šakotis cake which resembles a pine tree. From the meals we devour to the outstanding function that nature performs in our surroundings, Lithuanians place emphasis on authenticity. We’ve loads to be happy with and grateful for.