Parks & Benefits - News Archives
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:
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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.| 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. |
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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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29.07.2009 Project group meeting
Project group together with external environmental expert met to discuss project progress and planed activities in country house "Lantus". There were invited guest speakers from Gauja National Park and North Vidzeme Biosphere Reserve administration to share their experience on development of tourism products and infrastructure within nature protected areas. In the meeting was presented draft version of structure of Kemeri National Park guidebook as well as new seminar/learning materials for local stakeholders - Nature Activities For Tourists, Biological Diversity And Its Protection In Rural Tourism Establishment, Sustainable Use Of Nature Resources, Use Of Environment Friendly Building And Finishing Materials.Developing new tourism products - with sea kayaks along the the sea shore
| Project staff from Lauku celotajs continued to test new potential tourism routes and tried out new water tourism product - sea kayaking along the Baltic Sea shore in territory of Kemeri National Park. Tour route takes from Jaunkemeri till Klapkalnciems for about 40 km in total distance. Very interesting part of the tour is Cape Ragaciems with rocky sea bottom not deeper than one meter going 500 m far into the sea. |
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Developing new tourism products - hiking-cycling route test
| Hiking-cycling tour test was held on 11th of July, 2009. This time event gathered about 15 participants who took part in one or more out of 3 proposed tour routes. Specialists from Kemeri National Park were also taking active part in the event and were sharing their knowledge about the nature values and sites of interests. All together participants were discussing possible and required improvements of the tour routes. More photos from the event here. In the evening Kemeri National Park Administration invited everyone participate at annual Bat Night excursion. More photos from the Bat Night see here. |
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2nd meeting of project - Maribo, Denmark
2nd meeting of project partners was held June 8th - 11th in Denmark, Nature Park Maribosoerne. Partners were discussing such topics as Europarc Charter process, visitor monitoring and visitor management as well as financial aspects of BSR program and project communication plan. More on this event - agenda, list of participant. See more information about the park: www.naturparkmaribo.dk |
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Developing new tourism products - Around the Kemeri National Park on Bicycle
| Cycling tour test ride was held on 30th of May, 2009. The event gathered about 20 participants representing tourism providers, administration of the Kemeri National Park, the local residents and other stakeholders who are interested in development of the National Park. The aim or this tour was to develop a new cycling product – the route around the Kemeri national park, where the local community could be involved providing services along the route. The route makes a circle around the National park showing the variety of the national park: the historical heart – Kemeri town, coastal area and the inland with great variety of landscape and biotopes, and also known but still attractive areas which the visitors usually do not know as belonging to the National park. On the way, the specialists from the administration of the KNP were telling about the nature values and sites of interest, as well as about what activities are allowed and what is restricted in particular areas of the park. All participants were discussing possible and required improvements of the cycling route and options to maintain and manage it. Closing the first part of the route the group visited guest house “Valguma pasaule” which is important partner provider in the area, offers catering and in the nearest future is planning to offer off-site catering at the events organized by the administration of the KNP. Tour draft version see here. The final version of the cycling tour will be included in brochure of KNP. See even in pictures here. |
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Kemeri National Park - nature protection and tourism, cooperation options and benefits for local society
| There was held first stakeholder seminar of the project "Kemeri National Park - nature protection and tourism, cooperation options and benefits for local society" on 22nd of May, 2009, in the administration building of Kemeri National Park "Meza maja" (Forest House). The meeting gathered 45 participants - local residents, business representatives, tourism experts as well as Kemeri National Park authorities and representatives of Latvian Country Tourism Association "Lauku celotajs". During the seminar there were highlighted the main problems and difficulties and searched development options. For more information see - agenda, minutes and list of participants of the seminar. |
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March 11, 2009 Latvia Rural Tourism Conference
| Association "Lauku ceļotājs" organised annual rural tourism conference on March 11. All together the event gathered 251 participants from press, public and local authorities, tourism information centers, stakeholders and other interested persons. Main issue of the conference was - how to achieve increase of tourism with nature tourism development in protected areas. Speakers also informed what positive in tourism field is done and what else we should work on to increase number of tourists in countryside. Participants of the conference were introduced also with the idea of project "Parks&Benefits" and planned activities within the project life time. Overview of development of rural tourism in Latvia and perspectives for development with the short presentation of project "Parks & Benefits" in Latvian see here. Conference minutes - here. See photos from the event here. |
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9.-12.03.2009. Project Kick-off meeting. Muritz National Park, Germany
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Once starting the BSR project "Parks & Benefits" (2009-2012) all project partners met in Kratzeburg, Germany to discuss project tasks, administrative and financial issues of the project. See agenda of the meeting here. |
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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This project is partly financed by the European Union (ERDF) within the Baltic Sea Region Programme |
