Development of Culinary heritage as a network and method for regional tourism development in the context of Euroregion 'Country of lakes' Priority South Application round 1 Lead partner Euroregion 'Country of lakes' LATVIA,  Kraslava,  Brivibas 13 Contact person Tel.: 371 5622201 Fax: 371 5622266 Email: ilze@kraslava.lv; inara@kraslava.apollo.lv Brief summary of the project BACKGROUND. Euroregion 'Country of lakes' is a tool for promotion of cross border cooperation between LV, LT and BY border areas. In 2001 Lithuanians introduced to their Latvian and Belarussian colleagues the Culinary Heritage concept implemented in LT. In 2003/2004 Latvian side of Euroregion implemented successful Phare programme project ' Latgale CUISINE'. The project left a lot of challenges to be continued and developed. Political Council of Euroregion 'Country of lakes' in June 2004 in Belarus agreed on further development of CH concept in Euroregion. Based on actual need for regional tourism development this project is prepared.OVERALL OBJECTIVE: To promote sustainable cross border tourism development in the territory of Euroregion 'Country of lakes' contributing to becoming a well-being region, improvement of tourism infrastructure and structure of employment, and improvement of life quality for local population.SUB-OBJECTIVES: 1) to develop new regional tourism products based on European CH concept in the territory of Euroregion 'Country of lakes';2) to maximise existing business potential in the tourism - related sector in the territory of Euroregion 'Country of lakes'; 3) to popularise Euroregion 'Country of lakes' as a well – known tourism destination place in Europe.PARTNERSHIP. Networking of LV, LT and BY authorities of Euroregion 'Country of lakes'. MAIN ACTIVITIES.1.Carrying out market research, elaborating and testing common tourism routes and preparing tourism marketing strategy.2.Adequate human resource development and capacity building in tourism-related businesses.3.Further implementation of European Culinary Heritage concept and regional tourism marketing strategy of Euroregion and the newly-developed tourism products. EXPECTED OUTPUTS: Updated information on min.200 regional tourism stakeholders; 1 market analyses; 98 network meetings, 1 tourism marketing strategy; 1 updated European CH database; 2 test and 7 study tours; 3 trainings; 30 articles; 95000 booklets, ~100 CD, marketing souvenirs; participation at 6 tourism exhibitions; 2 seminars, 2 conferences and gala culture programme of international folk music festival. RESULTS: Successful project management and coordination ensured; new cross border tourism routes 'Discover the Country of lakes' elaborated; marketing and publicity measures of the project and the newly-developed tourism products carried out; capacity of professionals of project partners and tourism-related businesses improved. CROSS-BORDER IMPACT: sustainable cross border tourism development in the territory of Euroregion 'Country of lakes' promoted; Euroregion marketed as a tourism destination, positive and recognizable image of Euroregion is created; co-operation network within Euroregion strengthened on different levels; administrative capacity of project partners in implementation of EU cross border cooperation projects improved. Duration 16(5.2005 - 8.2006) Budget (EUR) 229959.00 ERDF contribution: 172469.25 National co-financing EU Member States: 57489.75 INTERREG IIIA Budget of project: 229959.00 Non-eligible financing: 1000.00 Funding from EU programmes for third countries: .00 National co-financing for funding from EU programmes for third countries: 0 National financing (third countries): 0 Private financing (third countries): 0 Total budget: 230959.00 Partners Name of Institution, Town Country Region Contact information Euroregion 'Country of lakes' LATVIA 0 Tel.: 371 5622201 Email: ilze@kraslava.lv; inara@kraslava.apollo.lv Utena county administration LITHUANIA 0 Tel.: 370 389 55838 Email: vyda@utena.aps.lt Miory district deputy council BELARUS 0 Tel.: 375 2152 21746 Email: . Verhnedvinsk district deputy council BELARUS 0 Tel.: 375 2151 22209 Email: . Postavi district deputy council BELARUS 0 Tel.: 375 2155 21042 Email: . Glubokoje district deputy council BELARUS 0 Tel.: 375 2156 21163 Email: . Braslav district deputy council BELARUS 0 Tel.: 375 2153 22473 Email: . Progress report The project 'Discover the Country of Lakes'has been successfully finished September 1, 2006. OVERALL OBJECTIVE: To promote sustainable cross border tourism development in the territory of Euroregion 'Country of lakes' contributing to becoming a well-being region, improvement of tourism infrastructure and structure of employment, and improvement of life quality for local population. SUB-OBJECTIVES: 1) to develop new regional tourism products based on European CH concept in the territory of Euroregion 'Country of lakes'; 2) to maximise existing business potential in the tourism - related sector in the territory of Euroregion 'Country of lakes'; 3) to popularise Euroregion 'Country of lakes' as a well – known tourism destination place in Europe. PARTNERSHIP. Networking of LV, LT and BY authorities of Euroregion 'Country of lakes'. MAIN ACTIVITIES.1.Carrying out market research, elaborating and testing common tourism routes and preparing tourism marketing strategy. .Adequate human resource development and capacity building in tourism-related businesses.3.Further implementation of European Culinary Heritage concept and regional tourism marketing strategy of Euroregion and the newly-developed tourism products. ACHIEVED OUTPUTS: Updated information on 699 regional tourism stakeholders; 1 market analyses; 90 network meetings, 1 tourism marketing strategy; 1 updated European CH database; 2 test and 7 study tours; 3 trainings; 100 articles; 95500 booklets, 100 CD in 5 lang., marketing souvenirs (badges,banners,bags, aprons, umbrellas,calendars, cups); participation at 6 tourism exhibitions; 2 seminars, 4 local and 2 common tourism routres elaborated; 7 Steering Committee meetings and 2 conferences and gala culture programme – a culinary heritage fair in the framework of international folk music festival. RESULTS: Successful project management and coordination ensured; new cross border tourism routes 'Discover the Country of lakes' elaborated; marketing and publicity measures of the project and the newly-developed tourism products carried out; capacity of professionals of project partners and tourism-related businesses improved. CROSS-BORDER IMPACT: sustainable cross border tourism development in the territory of Euroregion 'Country of lakes' promoted; Euroregion marketed as a tourism destination, positive and recognizable image of Euroregion is created; co-operation network within Euroregion strengthened on different levels; administrative capacity of project partners in implementation of EU cross border cooperation projects improved. Close window