Description
Description (EN): The project develops the chain of accessible nature tourism sites in the core Central Baltic area in Latvia, Estonia and Finland. 14 existing nature sites in three regions (western Latvia, western Estonia and southwest Finland) are being improved to become accessible to all, including people with disabilities, seniors, young families travelling with baby-strollers, people with temporary injuries. The improvements made together with previous experience in partner countries will serve as the basis for developing of an accessibility check-list for nature sites and share best practice examples with the tourism industry, local authorities and park administrations on most effective and simple accessibility solutions to break the stereotype of accessibility being expensive and complicated. New solutions on accessible products and services are also being developed to faciliate not just the most commonly targeted physical access, but also the more neglected access for people with visual, hearing and cognitive impairement that requires specific focus on accessible materials, such as tactile objects, Braille & audio materials, easy-to-comprehend signs and texts. A set of marketing activities are being pursued to brand the chain and promote the whole Central Baltic region as a single destination and one of the most accessible regions in Europe for nature tourism. An Internet platform and Travel guide is developed to publish the chain and list all the accessible nature sites in the core region in Latvia, Estonia and Finland. These information tools are so far the only information sources listing all accessible nature destinations which cover more than one country in the region. They will serve as a comprehensive information source to all foreign and local travellers and, particularly, the disabled persons to enjoy the natural and cultural heritage of the region and facilitate sustainable nature tourism.
Read more Achievements (EN): NatAc established a chain of accessible nature tourism sites:
NatAc established a chain of accessible nature tourism sites in Latvia, Estonia and Finland. Existing nature sites were developed into accessible tourism objects by using up-to-date, modern and sustainable solutions on infrastructure. In cooperation with accessibility experts, the project improved or created 19 accessible nature sites which are now accessible to all, including people with disabilities, seniors, young families travelling with baby-strollers, people with temporary injuries.
The project developed new solutions for accessible products and services. For example tactile objects were developed that allow to understand the shape and details of nature objects. Braille and audio materials were created to allow the blind to read and hear the data, toolboxes with educational materials to comprehend and enjoy the nature through various senses - touch, smell, taste etc. Videos were produced to give information about the accessible nature trails and developed products for learning about nature. Information about the accessible trails is provided on the site in plain language on tactile info stands, cards, easy to understand marking system with accessibility pictograms.
Accessibility of all nature trails in project area were assessed using the accessibility checklist. The project issued a Travel Guide on accessible nature sites and launched an Internet Platform mapeirons.eu, which contains info on all identified accessible or partly accessible nature sites in the core Central Baltic area in Latvia, Estonia and Finland. The guide is available in Latvian, Estonian, Finnish and English.
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Website: http://centralbaltic.eu/
Expected Results (EN): R2.1. More sustainable joint natural and cultural heritage based tourist attractions
Expected Outputs (EN): The Programme result indicator is justified with 2 Programme output indicators - no of targeted joint attractions and increase in expected no of visits. The project's main results are directly linked to the programme result indicator as the key project product is the development of the chain of accessible nature tourism sites (i.e. one targeted joint attraction) and as the result of the project during 5 years it is expected to reach the increased no of visitors in the region by 50000 visitors due to much more accessible nature tourism offer and promotion and inreasingly raising number of disabled persons and seniors in the CB region.
Some of the trail/objects are equipped with visitor counters, for others - a special methodology will be ensured to count the number of visitors and analyse the visitors' flow data. Thus the project expected result in terms of the number of visitors' increase shall be duly accounted for and reliable. The chain of accessible nature tourism sites involves not just the nature sites improved within the frame of the project, but shall gather reliable and tested data on all nature trails and objects existing in the core CB area in LV, EE and FIN. It will be mapped and listed in detail on the Internet platform and in the Travel Guide to be distributed to NGOs representing people with disabilities, seniors and young families, municipalities, visitor centres, tour operators and at international tourism fairs.
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Thematic information
Specific Objective:
Natural and cultural resources developed into sustainable tourist attractions
Thematic Objective:
(06) preserving and protecting the environment and promoting resource efficiency by:
Investment Priority:
(06c) Conserving, protecting, promoting and developing natural and cultural heritage
Partners (5)
Lead Partner:
Kurzemes Plānošanas reģions
Address:
Avotu 12, LV-3801 Saldus, Latvia
Legal status:
public
Website:
http://www.kurzemesregions.lv
Total budget:
EUR 300 000.00
ERDF budget:
EUR 240 930.00
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MTÜ Lääne-Eesti Turism
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Name:
MTÜ Lääne-Eesti Turism
Address:
JAAMA 1 JAAMA 1, 90302 LIHULA, Estonia
Legal status:
private
Website:
http://www.westestonia.ee
Total budget:
EUR 214 562.60
ERDF budget:
EUR 172 315.22
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Keskkonnaamet
-
Name:
Keskkonnaamet
Address:
Narva mnt 7A Narva mnt 7A, 15172 Tallinn, Estonia
Legal status:
public
Website:
http://www.keskkonnaamet.ee
Total budget:
EUR 126 968.00
ERDF budget:
EUR 101 968.00
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Metsähallitus, Rannikon Luontopalvelut
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Name:
Metsähallitus, Rannikon Luontopalvelut
Department:
Rannikon Luontopalvelut, Coastal Finland
Address:
Kärsämäentie 8, 20300 Turku, Finland
Legal status:
public
Website:
http://www.metsa.fi
Total budget:
EUR 238 805.05
ERDF budget:
EUR 179 103.79
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Pärnu Linnavalitsus
-
Name:
Pärnu Linnavalitsus
Address:
Suur-Sepa 16, 80098 Pärnu linn, Estonia
Legal status:
public
Website:
http://www.parnu.ee
Total budget:
EUR 85 437.40
ERDF budget:
EUR 68 614.78
