8.08.-10.08.2011. Inspection visits to Dzūkijas un Trakai national parks
 |
In August 8 - 10 the project specialists inspected the Trakai historical park and the Dzūkija national parks in Lithuania and met with the administration staff: Mrs.Leona Jančiauskienė in the Trakai historical park and Mrs. Lina Černiauskienė. in the Dzūkija national park. See the photo galleries: Trakai and Dzūkija. The results of the inspection visits will be used in the coming Baltic National Parks' guide. |
28.06.-1.07.2011. VII European Charter Network meeting
 |
The project leader participated in the VII European Charter Network meeting „Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas - Building Bridges-Seeking Solutions” June 28-July 1) in Djerdap national park, Serbia to share experience in tourism product development in the Slītere national park. The presentation is accessible here. |
New Travel Guide under preparation
The Baltic National Parks' travel guide will contain information about 14 national parks in Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia. The publication will be available this autumn which is a perfect time to visit national parks observing bird migration and other natural processes.
The project staff visited all the national parks testing the tourist offer, collecting realiable information and making pictures. Administrations and staff of the national parks, tourist information offices, service providers, NGOs, local enthusiasts of regional studies all have been involved in supply of information and ideas for this travel guide. Thank you all for your help and cooperation!
Travel Day to Slītere, June 4-5, 2011
Initiated under the project, the Travel Day to Slītere becomes a tradition as the 1st event took place in June 2010. This year Slītere offers an extensive program of events, as the local initiative has grown considerably stronger, involving more local supporters and participants.
12.04.2011. Soomaa national park in spring flood time
 |
Aivar Rukel from Soomaa national park informed us about the start of the 5th season of the year - the floods. We went to check the boating product and to collect information for the becoming Baltic National Parks travel guide. Actually, we even prolonged the traditionally offered route and made slightly over 30km in 9 hours. See the route and photo gallery of the trip here. |
7.04.2011. POLPROP group meets at the State Inspection for Heritage Protection
 |
Developing proposals for coastal building architecture with the goal to create and maintain well considered and appropriate architectural environment in the given setting, a discussion took place on April 7, 2011 with representatives of the Sate Inspection for Heritage Protection.
Draft version of the proposal document (LV).
Meeting minutes (LV). |
02.2011. Botanical guide. The Plant Finder
 |
The main goal of the authors of this guide is to help you to spot the types of plants and mushrooms that are all around us. The guide includes: the plant finder containing over 250 frequently observed plant species; the botanical tours and routes and separate objects or sites related to plants and botany, like dendrological gardens, botanical trails, gardens, etc. It consists of 4 parts:
- "Worth Seeing" - Latvia's most interesting botany-realated nature trails, including information about huge and/or interessting trees of various species, alleys, etc.
- "Plant and Mushroom Routes" contains a list of ready-made routes.
- "Plant Finder". There are included the photos of more than 400 different most common plants, lichens and mushrooms species in order to help you to recognize them in the field. Each species has got some interesting facts or stories.
- "Protect and preserve" is our list of all of the protected species of plants.
More about a layout of the guide you can find here. |
22.-23.03.2011. Baltic nature tourism conference
11.11.2010. The Slītere National Park Tourism guide
- This is the first traveller's guide, so comprehensive in its contents and scope, which has ever been published on a national park and a Natura 2000 site in Latvia.
- For the first time, such a traveller's guide in Latvia is based on local stories. More than 30 local residents, people from the administration of the Slītere National Park and the Regional council of Dundaga were all involved in creation of this guide.
 |
In the Slītere National Park Tourism guide you will find:
- The most significant events and facts on the history of nature and people which are related to the Kurzeme peninsula, the Livonian coast and the Slītere National Park;
- Worth seeing and knowing,– descriptions of more than 100 natural and cultural heritage sites, especially highlighting the 12 treasures of Slītere;
- Touring itineraries – a variety of routes for walking, cycling, boating, bird and animal watching and driving; Annual events – a calendar with time schedule of the regular events, taking place in the Slītere national park;
- ”Green” and practical advice for every mode of touring the Slītere National Park.
- Services and facilities – accommodations, food, equipment rentals, banks and other practical information.
- The map of the Slītere National Park.
The e-book here. |
3.03.2011. Meeting in Dundaga
 |
On March 3, we went to Dundaga to meet with representatives of the Dundaga Regional Council, Nature Conservation Agency (the former Slītere National park administration), tourism and culture specialists of the region. On the agenda: organisational issues of the Travel Day to Slītere. More information on the event here (LV). |
02.2011. Inspection visits in national parks
 |
The winter is tough this year. Even the sea gets frozen. On February 25, the specialists of Lauku celotajs went to Estonia to test ice roads connecting the Estonian islands to the mainland. Photo gallery here.
In the Ķemeri national park, we tested new cross-country skiing routes. Photo galleries here and here. |
11-13.02.2011. Travel trade fair "Balttour 2011"
 |
Lauku ceļotājs participated in "Balttour 2011" fair inviting people to head out of the city and enjoy nature. We promoted hiking, cycling, boating and self-drive tours in Natura2000 sites in Latvia: the national parks of Slītere, Rāzna and Ķemeri, the Dviete Wetlands, the Abava River Valley, the Vidzeme seacoast. Stand visitors filled in survey forms to receive the new calendar "Slītere invites". All stand vsitors received the latest edition of the "Slītere news" and those, especially interested in teh area, received the Slītere Travel Guide. During 3 days, 22 500 visitors attended the trade fair. Photo gallery from the trade fair here. |
20.08.2010. Practical colour marking seminar
 |
The LC specialists are working on policy proposal “Guidelines for colour marking of active tourism trails”. On 20.08.2010 the methodology was tested in natural conditions in the form of practical seminar, marking 26km of the road linking the Liv villages between Mazirbe and Kolka. Participating were representatives from the Ministry of Environment, small business in the SNP, tourist information offices and others. Photo from event here. |
Summer, 2010. Inspection visits to Baltic National Parks - Matsalu, Lahemaa, Kursiu Nerija and Rāzna
07.07.2010. Local stakeholders seminar took place at Kolka Community House
 |
On 7th July this year local people of city Kolka and Lauku ceļotājs came together at Kolkas Community House to evaluate all the work done in Slītere National Park and especially in Slītere travellers’ day. Questions on Agenda:
- Results of various activities in Slītere, within the LIFE project
- Results of Slītere travellers’ day – event statistics, social pool results, media publications review, photo contest, individual feedbacks.
- Discussions – feedbacks – suggestions for future
Seminar presentation. Download here (pdf, 3,4 Mb)
|
12.06.2010. First public discussion took place within the framework of LIFE project – Slītere Traveller's Day
|
On 12th June the first project public discussion where held in Slītere. To promote environmentally friendly and sustainable tourism development in Slītere National Park and mutual discussions among all target groups, in Slītere Travellers Day all participants where acquinted with new tourism routes, Slītere Tourism Guide and 5 outdoor info stands.
During the event Raimonds Vējonis, Minister of Environment, Aldonis Zumbergs, Chairman of Dundaga’s Administrative District’s Council and Dace Sāmīte, Director of Slīteres National Park administration addressed all participants inviting to travel to Slītere in the future.
More than 450 people travelled new routes together with tourism guides. The most visited were: a walking route „The ring of Kolka”, a walking route „Kosrags- Pitrags – Kosrags”, a biking route „Kosrags- Mazirbe – Kosrags, an expedition „Looking for the Longest Wooden Railroad Bridge”, a walking route „The diversity of nature in marshes and forests” and a walking route „Get acquainted with Mazirbe”. From offered sights, the most popular in this day where Cape of Kolka, Slitere’s lighthouse, Kolka’s Lutheran church, Vaide’s museum of horns, Liv people’s centre in Mazirbe and Dundaga’s palace.
Participants where invited participate in social pool about Slītere National Park.
|
09.06.2010. International Rural tourism workshop
The workshop will bring together European professionals in rural tourism – associations, tour operators, tourist boards, service providers and others – to summarise and evaluate the changes in the sector and highlight innovative, constructive and successful approaches to win the challenges presented to rural tourism by the economic situation in Europe.
The workshop programme is structured in three theme panels.
Panel 3: Regional and specialised tourism products - how to improve the local value chain. The panel discusses best practices in developing regional specialised products achieving involvement and dedication of local stakeholders - rural tourism providers, local municipalities and others. There Juris Smaļinskis, the project environment and tourism, will introduce with presentation “Developing nature based products, motivating and involving local community. Case study: the Slitere National Park, Latvia”
More about the event here.
June, 2010. The public discussion – Slītere Traveller's Day
Under the auspices of a European Commission Life Programme project aimed at drafting proposals on environmental policies and management so as to demonstrate environmental, social and economic benefits from tourism in the Slītere National Park (a Natura 2000 territory), Lauku Ceļotājs has prepared recommendations on how to develop tourism while protecting the environment. These will be on display at the Slītere National Park via new tourism routes, a new tourist guide, and a set of information stands. All of this has been the result of fine co-operation among the local residents of the area and the relevant state and local government institutions.
The one-day Travel Day to Slītere event has been organised by Lauku Ceļotājs to present the routes, the guide and the information stands. Another goal on June 12 will be to promote more public debate about sustainable tourism development in national parks and other Natura 2000 territories in Latvia. Local residents came up with the idea of the travel day, and it is being organised with the help of the Dundaga Administrative District Council and the administration of the Slītere National Park.
More about day, program and routes are here.
19.05.2010. Media trip to the Slītere National Park
 |
On May 19, Lauku celotajs organised media trip to the Slītere National Park with aim to present new tourism products, outdoor stands, etc. In trip participated 35 journalists, 75 media coverage’s followed. Photo gallery here. |
Lauku ceļotājs takes part in travel trade fair „Balttour 2010” in February 5-8
 |
On 5-6.02.10 LC participated in the Balttour travel trade fair in Riga, Latvia. Trade fair attracted 16 765 visitors. Photo from trade fair here. |
New touring routes in the Slītere National Park
|
LLTA „Lauku ceļotājs” together with the administration of the Slītere National Park and with participation of the local entrpreneurs and community activists have developed 5 new tourism products in the park: hiking, cycling, boating, driving and nature watching. After on site inspection and testing, the products are systematised in 9 routes and tours. The goal of the new products is to make the visitors stay longer in the area using the services of the local providers ensuring long term sustainability of tourism activities.
|
18.12.2009. The 2nd policy proposal drafting team meeting
30.11.-3.12. 2009. Naut Kusters, head of the project partner organisation visits Latvia
|
Naut Kusters had meetings with Ingūna Urtāne, the head of the Spatial planning department of the Ministry of Regional Development and Local Government and her colleague Dace Granta, Dace Sāmīte, the director of the Slītere national park, Elmārs Pēterhofs, the executive directors of the Dundaga region, Žaneta Mikosa, the parliamentary secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Daiga Vilkaste, the director of the Nature protection department of the ministry of Environment and Vija Buša, her deputy, Jānis Strautnieks, the general director of the Nature Protection Agency. The purpose of teh meetings was to define areas in which it is necessary to involve experts. The key areas in need of xternal expertise are territorial planning of the seacoast and communication with the local community. |
10.11.2009. Stakeholder meeting at „Pītagi” guest house in Košrags village
 |
On November 10, 2009, stakeholders met at “Pītagi” guest house in Košrags village, Dundaga region to discuss sustainable tourism development in the Slītere National Park. Represented were residents of the area, local tourism entrepreneurs, the SNP administration, local governments, tourist information centres and Lauku ceļotājs. Asnāte Ziemele presented the document Lauku ceļotājs has drafted on the existing offer, resources and proposals for tourism development. The participants discussed the paper, the required local actions and the touirsm development vision in the Slītere National Park. PP presentation. Minutes.
|
Calendar for 2010. - Welcome to Slītere!
 |
We are working on new touring routes in the Slītere National Park. In the meantime, we have produced a calendar for 2010 to promote the park, its tourism offer and events for general public. The information focusses on things to see and do in the park at present, and future plans are introduced. The dates of public events in the Slītere National Park are marked and described to invite everybody to visit: the Bird Days, the Environment Day, the Water day, the Traveller's Day, Winter and Summer solstices and the Liv Festival. |
Slitere NP tourist survey
 |
To find out your opinion on the Slitere National Park and tourist services there, we are doing a visitor survey. The survey forms are available at the tourist information offices of the Slitere National Park and nearest locations, as well as rural tourist accommodations. Online survey forms can be filled in at http://www.surveys.countryholidays.lv/qst/. All respondents take part in the lottery. |
20.10.2009. The 2nd steering committee meeting
|
On Oct. 2, 2009, the steering committee meeting took place. The members were informed about the progress of the project „POLPROP-NATURA” (Nr. LIFE07ENV/LV/000981). The monitoring protocol for the current monitoring period was approved. |
15.09.2009. Rural tourism provider meeting at Vecgulbene estate
 |
On Sept. 15, 2009, Lauku celotajs organised a meeting for rural tourism providers. The participants discussed the season of 2009, learned about the project progress and schedule of coming project tasks and events. Present were 88 rural tourism providers from all regions of Latvia. Juris Smaļinskis, the project environmental specialist, gave a presentation on the project progress, the completed and forthcoming tasks.
|
09.09.2009. Media tour to the Natura 2000 sites in Zemgale region
 |
To promote recognition of the Natura2000 and visiting possibilities in protected nature areas, on September 9, Lauku celotajs organised media trip to Natura 2000 sites in the Zemgale region. Tour programme. Photo gallery. The TV programme "Zaļais īpašums" made a video and broadcasted on Sept. 26, 2009. |
04.08.2009. Meeting on development of the Tourism section of the Slītere nature protection plan
 |
On August 4, "Lauku celotajs" organised a meeting with the local initiative group and local stakehoders. The meeting took place at the guest house "Pītagi" (Dundaga region, Kolka community, Košrags village). First, the local initiative group met to discuss and formulate ideas and concepts. After that, a general meeting inviting all interested stakeholders took place to discuss actions and measures required for tourism development in the national park. In the next day we tested the new route for velo and walkers.
Photo gallery here. A.Ziemele presentation here.
|
20.-22.07.2009. Project visit in the Vilsandi national park (Estonia)
 |
In July 20 -22., the project staff went on field visit in the Vilsandi national park in Estonia. It is established in 1993 and most of its territory is the sea. For this reason, a sea boat was used for the area inspection trip. The inspection trip involved hiking in Harilaid peninsula, Elda peninsula, Vilsandi island, sea wading from the Saaremaa island to the Vilsandi island, boating alog the Loonalaid islands in the Kuusnomme bay. The project staff had a meeting and discussions with local specialists. More infrmation about the national park in the park's web site. See the photo gallery from the inspection trip here. |
Visitor monitoring started in the Slītere National Park
 |
One of the project tasks, is visitor monitoring in the Slītere National Park. It is planned as a complex of measures to assess the environmental, social and economical impact of the tourist flow in the Slītere National Park as a tourist destination. As one of the measures is visitor review on site and online. Review forms, containing questions on nature tourism, are accessible from our web site and all respondents have a chance to win a country holiday stay. For the moment, 277 responses have been received. Soon a questionnaire specifically on the Slītere national park will be put online. The questionnaires are distributed in the Slītere national park and vicinity. The first responses were received on July 10, during on-site visitor interviews in two of the park's nature trails. Respondents have an option to win a weekend in a country holiday site in Latvia.
Photo gallery here. |
8-9.06.2009. Project visit in the Žemaitija National Park (Lithuania)
 |
On June 8 and 9, the project staff visited the Žemaitija National Park in Lithuania. The most visited tourist attraction in the park is the former missile base (16000 visitors in 2008.). The second most popular attraction is the Lake Plateliai and tourist services: boat and paddle boat rent, diving. There is a yachting club. The park is famous for its artisan traditions in wood carving. Moore than 200 wooden masks are exposed in the museum located in the former eastate's barn. The Žemaitijas Kalvarija village in the North of the park is famous for its Christian traditions. The landscape features several hills, on each of them there are a chapel or a little church. On some of these hills, the fortified castles of the ancient Semigallinan tribes have been located once. More information about the park in its web site. Photo gallery here. |
02.04.2009. Policy proposal drafting team meeting
 |
The project dealing with the policy proposals for tourism development in protected nature areas, a policy propsal drafting team was formed to ensure well based and relevant proposals for improvement of the existing policy and legislation documents. The first team meeting took place on June 2, 2009. The team includes representatives from the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Economics, the Ministry of Regional Development and Self-governments, the State Inspection for Protection of Cultural Heritage, the Nature Protection Board and the Latvian Country Tourism Association. During the first meeting, the project goals, progress and expected results were presented to to the group. The team discussed the situation and problems in the Slītere national park (the project demo area) as detected during the project inspection visits and discussions with local stakeholders. The team discussed the relevance and impact of the present legislation and normative documents, formulated conclusions and proposals for further actions. |
14.05.2009. Project visit in the Karula National Park, Estonia
|
The project staff visited the Karula National Park on May 14, 2009. to assess the tourism resources, products, development and cooperation prospects and compare the situation with the other national parks in the Baltics. See the photo gallery of the inspection trip. |
11.05.2009. Seminar “Local cooperation for development of new tourism products in Kurzeme”
 |
On May 11, 2009, the first awareness raising seminar took place at the "Laumu dabas parks". 35 participants - tourism businesses, local representatives, specialists from ministries and other stakeholders took part. The seminar raised active discussions on prospects and obstacles in development of tourism services in the Kurzeme region. See the photo gallery here.
|
28.-29.04.2009. Project visit in the Soomaa National Park, Estonia
 |
In April 28.-29., the project staff and the expert from the Slīteres national park visited the Soomaa national park in Estonia to inspect the tourism products. The park is famous for its boating offer in the "5th season" - the floods. This year, during Easter time, it attracted ca 500 visitors. The infrastructure of nature trails is well developed in the park. The trails are showing diversity of biotopes. Especially attractive are the Ingatsi and the Riisa trails. The project staff and the expert had a meeting with Aivar Rukel, one of the tourism providers in the national park, and Rait Part, head of the visitors' centre. More information about the park: www.soomaa.ee. See the photo gallery of the inspection trip. |
17.-18.04.2009. Naut Kusters, the project partner ECEAT expert visits Latvia
|
In April 17.-18., LCTA „Lauku Ceļotājs” staff and Naut Kusters visited had a meeting in Riga and visited the Slītere National Park. Practical project implementation issues were discussed and the expert shared his knowledge answering to our questions about added value tourism can bring to protected nature areas, good practice in integradtion of tourism and nature protection, cooperation betweeen the administrations of the national parks and local communities. During the field visit in the Slītere National Park, the expert assessed the tourism objects, infrastructure and met with the local stakeholders. |
30.03.-01.04.2009. Project visit in the Slīteres national park
 |
In March 30 - April 1, the project staff visited the Slītere National Park to inspect the situation, the local sites of tourism and nature interest and assess sustainable tourism development opportunities. See the photo gallery . |
11.03.2009. National Rural and Nature Tourism Conference |
 |
On March 11, 2009., the project was presented to 251 participants of the national rural nature tourism conference. One of the main conference themes was tourism development in protected nature areas. The conference was opened by Mārtiņš Jirgens, the parliamentary secretary of the Latvian Mnistry of Environment. The presentations were given by Aldis Kušķis, the member of the European Parliament, Asnāte Ziemele, the president of "Lauku ceļotājs", Uldis Vītoliņš, the director of the State Tourism Development Agency, Andris Klepers, the expert form the Latvian Fund for Nature, Juris Smaļinskis, the environmental expert of the POLPROP-NATURA project, Valērijs Seilis, the director of the administration of the North Videzeme biosphere reserve, Andris Soms, the PR spec projekta. Several rural tourism providers presented their experience in successful nature based products. The conference photo gallery here and minutes here. |
Lauku ceļotājs takes part in travel trade fair „Balttour 2009” in February 6-8
Participation in the travel fair „Balttour 2009” is the first activity in the project „POLPROP-NATURA”. The project was presented on the stand along with the information on nature travel where to stay and what to see visiting Natura 2000 sites. The stand visitors learned about the project we have started to improve rural tourism in Latvia, through sustainable use of nature resources in protected nature areas, stimulating cooperation between nature protection and rural tourism. The
project leaflet was disseminated. The trade fair attracted 16 765 visitors.
    |
With the contribution of the LIFE financial instrument of the European Community. Co-financed Ministry of the Environment and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
