Parks & Benefits
| The
aim of this project is
to generate socio-economic effects by a sustainable management of
protected areas for the benefit of their regions. The Baltic Sea
Region holds outstanding and unique natural heritage. While respecting
nature protection requirements and development objectives, sustainable
nature tourism within and around protected areas can be an important
element of the regional economies. Up to now this economic potential is on the one hand underdeveloped and offers vast possibilities for the development of tourism, of public-private partnerships and improved nature conservation. At the same time can existing economic performance be widely underestimated, which often results in mislead discussions and prejudices about the use of nature protection. On the other hand all stakeholders within regions with protected areas need to practice cooperation and communication on an equal footing for truly sustainable development. |
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The aim of the pilot project is to encourage cooperation of local residents, business representatives, NGOs, government institutions, municipalities and administration of Kemeri National Park to generate tourism offer within the area of protected area. To promote tourism offer within national parks in Latvia.
  | This project is partly financed by the European Union (ERDF) within the Interreg IVB Programme |
Events and activities
Balttour 2010
| Lauku
celotajs participated in 17th international tourism trade fair
"Balttour 2010" (February 5th-7th) were the newest active and nature
tourism offer for cycling,
self-drive, hiking and canoeing in the sea in Slitere and Kemeri
National Parks as well as self-drive nature tour getting to know military heritage of Latvia. There were presented tour routes, recreation sites, vouchers, fairy and flight connections and various tourism and recreation options from 207 participants from 25 countries - 126 foreign and 81 Latvian companies. Visitor number in three days reached more than 17 000 which is more than year before. |  |
What is territories Natura 2000
Within project Parks&Benefits Lauku celotajs has updated informative material for travelers and rural tourism providers who live or work in Natura 2000 promoting nature tourism development in nature protected areas. Material gives insight what is brand Natura 2000, why it has been established and what is protected in these territories. Also one can use it for more practical information - what rules and laws applies for the territories Natura 2000 and what benefits can gain local tourism provider by developing nature friendly business in or right next to territories of Natura 2000. Informative material is available on-line here (EN) or at macies.celotajs.lv (LV)New tourism products in Kemeri national park
Lauku celotajs in close cooperation with administration of Kemeri national park (KNP) has created 7 descriptions of new active tourism products: hiking, cycling, canoeing, self-drive and bird watching. The new tourism products are presented at international tourism fair Balttour 2010 (05.02.-07.02.2010.) at stand of Lauku celotajs, as well as on the web site of Lauku celotajs in Latvian and English, German and Russian languages in the nearest time.| Developed
tour routes offers to get to know nature and historical variety of
national park. Each tour includes route description with detail map,
general information about the national park, available tourism services
and points of interest. The aim of tourism product development has been
to promote longer stay of tourists in the territory of national park
and its surrounding as well as sustainable development and use of
services provided by local tourism businesses. All route descriptions
have been discussed with local stakeholders and improved with their
active participation. The tourism products will be updated also in
future according to the tourist feedback and experience of local
stakeholders. More about development process of the new tourism products can be read here. |  |
02.-04.12.2009. Project marketing workshop
Project partners met for common marketing seminar and workshop in beginning of December in Berlin, Germany. There were invited professionals of the field to share best practice of nature protected area promotion in Germany and Norway. To inform society about the partner parks and unique values of Baltic Sea region there will be published image brochure, animation film and other common activities. For more information about the workshop see agenda and pictures. |
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Project partner meeting in Lithuania
Keeping up common international cooperation within Parks & Benefits project 3rd project partner meeting was held in Paplatele village in Žemaitijos National Park. Project progress, financial aspects and planned project activities were discussed during the meeting. Additionally local field trips were organized to give better overview of project territories - Zemaitijos National park and Kurtuvenia Regional park, and national, cultural and historical values within parks. For more information about the event see agenda. See pictures here. |
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Project News Archives
Lead partner:
| Ministry for Agriculture, Environment and Consumer Protection in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany Olaf Ostermann Phone: +49 385 588 6641 E-mail: o.ostermann@lu.mv-regierung.de |
Pilot project is done by:
| Latvian Country Tourism Association "Lauku ceļotājs" Vilipa street 12-21 Riga, LV-1083 Phone: +371 67617600 Fax: +371 67830041 E-mail: asnate@celotajs.lv |
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