Development of tourism near the border river Memele/Nemunele Priority South Application round 2 Lead partner Latvian Rural advisory and training centre LATVIA,  Ozolnieku novads,  Rigas iela 34, Ozolnieki Contact person Tel.: +371 3050220 Fax: +371 3022264 Email: admin@llkc.lv Brief summary of the project Background Latvian - Lithuanian border areas are characterized with high unemployment levels, insufficient motivation of the local inhabitants, insufficient level of adult education, large distance to the center and unarranged infrastructure. All this results in shortage of economic and social activities, thus deepening the gap between the developed and undeveloped rural areas. In order to solve problems that are crucial to both sides of the border and favor border zone cooperation and development of border regions, Latvian and Lithuanian partners will carry out joint activities, the primal emphasis laying on development of joint tourism and training of inhabitants. To implement these activities there will be a partnership formed of Latvian rural advisory and training centre, Lithuanian agricultural advisory centre, NGO SO Skaistkalne and NGO Birzai region local activity group. Objectives: 1) development of tourism in the border regions; 2) exchange of experience (courses, workshops, trainings) between Latvia and Lithuania; 3) development of rural territories along river Memele/Nemune. Activities: 1) study/research of tourism objects and information along river Memele/Nemunele; 2) training of guides and economists from the border regions of Latvia and Lithuania; 3) development of joint tourism strategy; 4) development of brochures, maps and their popularization; 5) organizing visits for information exchange; 6) setting up of the Tourism Competence Centers as advisory centre’s units. Implementation of the project will create a sound basis for tourism development in the Memele/Nemunele border area - including a joint tourism strategy, tourist information system, tour guides and necessary specialists for tourism development, exchange of knowledge and information between tourism related organisations and persons in Latvia and Lithuania. Contacts created during the project in the future would result in better cooperation between Latvian and Lithuanian advisory centers, rural entrepreneurs and farmers. Duration 18(8.2005 - 1.2007) Budget (EUR) 98832.64 ERDF contribution: 74124.48 National co-financing EU Member States: 24708.16 INTERREG IIIA Budget of project: 98832.64 Non-eligible financing: .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: 98832.64 Partners Name of Institution, Town Country Region Contact information Latvian Rural advisory and training centre LATVIA 0 Tel.: +371 3050220 Email: admin@llkc.lv Social organisation 'Skaistkalne' LATVIA 0 Tel.: +371 3927211 Email: laimaindrike@inbox.lv The Lithuanian Agricultural Advisory Service LITHUANIA 0 Tel.: +370 347 37870 Email: edita.juodgalvyte@lzukt.lt Birzai region local activity group LITHUANIA 0 Tel.: +370 450 31880 Email: bku@lku.lt Progress report Even thou the start of the real project activities were later than it was planned in the application common efforts of all project partners made it possible to finalize the project by the end of February 2007. As the project Lead Partner had had no experience for managing a complete INTERREG project the plan was too optimistic. The partnership agreements between the Lead Partner (LP) Latvian Rural Advisory and Training Centre and project partners Social Organization Skaistkalne (P2), Lithuanian Agricultural Advisory Service (P3) and Birzi Local Activity Group (P4) were signed in the first half of March. Soon after that work on the development of the guides training program was started and the guide training took place in Latvia on 8-th of June. The training program was developed for 56 hours in Latvia and 50 hours in Lithuania. The training program was concluded by a joint 2 day guide examination on October 6 and 7, 2006. LP and P3 have completed all arrangements for setting up of Tourism Competence Centers in Bauska and Birzi – recruited necessary specialists and purchased the necessary office equipment for their everyday in assisting the local farmers and entrepreneurs in development of tourism products and services. In the last reporting period the development of the joint tourism development strategy has been finalized. The strategy is available in Latvian and Lithuanian languages with a brief summary in English. Strategy describes the current situation in tourism near Memele/Nemunelis and outlines main development directions for the future. Several unexpected problems delayed the construction of infrastructure objects – 6 boat stations and 2 tourism infrastructure places during the first reporting period, but never the lees all infrastructure objects erre finalized till the end of the project. The overall conclusion is that the project has activated the initiative of the local population and many of the local inhabitants have plans for creating of new tourism products in the future as well as all project partners are ready to cooperate in future projects. Close window