Culture Heritage as Product of Rural/Farm Tourism:Case of Latvia

The 4th European Congress of Rural Tourism in October of 2012 highlighted the role of rural tourism in the development of rural space, maintenance of rural community and culture heritage. In Latvia, as in many European countries, tourism has gained significant importance in rural areas and what is more important – cultural heritage becomes a product of tourism. In rural areas, tourism expands as rural tourism, as well as farm tourism. The authors sought to explain the problems, the scale and structure of these problems, and their relation to cultural heritage as a tourism product. The study indicates that practically it is necessary to carry out work with the people involved in tourism to develop their knowledge and skills regarding cultural heritage and its potentialities (courses and seminars), and at the same time create educational programs in the industry for the supply of new professionals (study programs in higher education institutions).