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 Baltic Sea Region Programme |
Project results
Events and activities
30.07.2010 Sustainable rural tourism management
|
In close
cooperation with the project’s environment expert there have been new learning
and advising information materials developed on the topic of sustainable rural
tourism management and preservation of natural and cultural values.
Explanations of the execution of the compliance criteria for the national eco-label “Green Certificate” of Latvian rural tourism accommodation sites is dedicated to help the rural tourism providers practice sustainable use of nature resources and by doing it save also the financial resources. The document covers efficient utilization of natural resources, waste management, environment education and information, attitude towards national and cultural heritage and other important criteria. The document is available in Latvian on website of the Green Certificate eco.celotajs.lv. Summary in English read here. In order to delineate the examples of sustainable management (in the context of tourism) best practice and to explain existing contradictions of development process of new nature tourism products in the nature protected areas and Natura 2000 sites there has been developed Guide for rural tourism entrepreneurs’ sustainable management in the Natura 2000 sites (LV). Summary in English read here. |
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Green tourism development
Project
group representatives have participated in several international
conferences and workshops for project dissemination and experience
exchange:
|  |
28.06.2010. Project group meeting
| Project group together with external environmental expert and board members of the association met to discuss project progress and planed activities on 28th of June, 2010. New informative and learning materials developed within the project were presented - "Guide for rural tourism entrepreneurs' sustainable management in the Natura2000 sites" and "Explanations of the execution of the compliance criteria for the national eco-label "Green Certificate" of Latvian rural tourism accommodation sites". Agenda and minutes of the event available in Latvian. |  |
Tourism products in Kemeri National Park - updated
| Now the 7 active tourism products of Kemeri National Park are available also in Russian and German.
The Tourism products have been developed in close cooperation with
administration of Kemeri National Park and local tourism providers. |  |
9.06.2010. Changing concept for quality
| There
was held international rural tourism workshop bringing together
Europeand profesionals in rural tourism to summarise and avaluate the
changes in the sector and gighlight innovative, constructive and
succesful approaches to win the challenges presented to rural tourism
by the economic situatuin in Europe. Participants of the workshope were
also introduced with the Parks&Benefits project and activities of
the project. More about the workshop see here. |  |
17.-21.05.2010. Project partner meeting in Norway
| Continuing common international cooperation within Parks & Benefits project 4rd project partner meeting was held in Oppdal village next to Dovrefell National Park. Project progress, financial aspects and planned project activities were discussed during the meeting. New tourism products of Kemeri National Park were presented and participants of the meeting were introduced with the eco label Green Certificate and its development in Latvia. Additionally local field trips were organized to give better overview of project territory - Dovrefjell National park and national, cultural and historical values within the park. For more information about the event see agenda and photos. |  |
07.04.2010. Birds at the Ķemeri
| Lauku
ceļotājs has continued testing of the developed active tourism routs in
Kemeri National Park in cooperation with local and foreign bird
specialists on 7th of April, 2010. The bird watching test tour started
at the Dumbraji Trail next to the administration office of the KNP and
was held whole day at the Tirelis Trail, the Dunduri Meadows, the
Lapmezciems seashore where the tributary of the Starpinupe River flows
into the sea and Lake Kaņieris. 6 participants took part in the event
representing bird specialists, project team and local residents of
National Park.More about the bird watching tour in
KNP see here. Photos of the event see here. |  |
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. Over 150 sets of the new tourism products for Kemeri National
Park were distributed during the fair. 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. |  |
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" Kalnciema street 40 Riga, LV-1046 Phone: +371 67617600 Fax: +371 67830041 E-mail: asnate@celotajs.lv |
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