The Ministry of Economy and Innovation is allocating \u20ac3.93 million from the European Regional Development Fund to strengthen the conference tourism sector in central and western Lithuania. <\/p>\n\n
The funding will be used to promote Lithuania\u2019s regions more effectively abroad \u2013 for marketing campaigns, participation in international exhibitions and business meetings, visits by foreign partners, and the establishment of new contacts that would help attract more international events to the regions. <\/p>\n\n
\u201cVilnius is already demonstrating the potential of conference tourism \u2013 last year, the capital hosted as many as 791 international conferences, and the number rose by as much as 40 per cent over the course of the year. However, we want the capital not to be the only place featured on the map of international events. We have strong regions, exceptional culture, gastronomy and infrastructure, so we want to see more and more international events taking place not only in the capital, but also in other Lithuanian cities,\u201d says Edvinas Grik\u0161as, Minister for the Economy and Innovation. <\/p>\n\n
The funding is intended to attract micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating in the conference tourism sector in the central and western regions of Lithuania. Companies will be able to receive funding covering up to 100 per cent of project costs. <\/p>\n\n
The projects will be carried out in the central and western regions of Lithuania and must be completed by September 2029. <\/p>\n\n
The measure is being implemented under the 2021\u20132027 European Union Funds Investment Programme \u2018A Smarter Lithuania\u2019. Under this measure, the public body \u2018Keliauk Lietuvoje\u2019 will administer the funding and implement the project. <\/p>\n\n