Development of water tourism
as nature and active tourism
component in Latvia and Estonia
Kick-off Meeting
17.04.2013, Sigulda, Latvia
OPENING OF THE MEETING
Project „Riverways” objectives, challenges and expected results
Aiga Petkēvica, Kurzeme planning region administration, Project manager
Project activities in the South – Estonia
Elo Mets, Valga County Development Agency, Project coordinator in Estonia
Project activities in the Lääne county (West Estonia)
Andres Huul, Lääne County Development Centre, Manager
Project activities in the Riga region
Challenges of the water tourism development in Riga region – central part of Latvia by the Gulf of Riga
Liesma Grīnberga, Riga Planning region, Project coordinator
Project activities in the Vidzeme region
Cooperation – opportunity for water tourism development in Vidzeme region
Ineta Puriņa, Vidzeme Planning region, Project coordinator
Project activities in the Kurzeme region
New water tourism products in Kurzeme – basis for diverse water and active tourism opportunities Aiga
Petkēvica, Kurzeme planning region, Project manager
12.05 COFFEE BREAK AND NETWORKING
Role of Latvian tourism development agency in promotion of active and nature tourism
Madara Brūvere, Latvian Tourism Development Agency
Active and nature tourism trends in Estonia
Imbi Rüütel, Theme Manager (Nature Holiday), Estonian Tourist Board/ Enterprise Estonia
Water tourism from the perspective of entrepreneurs
Rolands Melbārdis, Active tourism centre “Eži”
Water tourism from the perspective of entrepreneurs
Levo Tohva, Adventurer, blogger, lecturer, entrepreneur and developer
Project ID
3
Question
Answer
Programme
Latvia – Estonia cross-border cooperation programme 2007 - 2013
Project title
Development of water tourism as nature and active tourism
component in Latvia and Estonia
Short title
Riverways
Title in Latvian
Ūdenstūrisma kā dabas un aktīva tūrisma komponentes attīstība Latvijā
un Igaunijā
Title in Estonian
Veeturismi kui loodus- ja aktiivse turismi ühe komponendi arendamine
Lätis ja Eestis
Project index
EU 43385
Implementation
period
24 months / 15.01.2013 – 14.01.2015
Number of
partners
39, including 9 from Estonia, 6 from Vidzeme Planning region, 12 from
Riga planning region, 12 from Kurzeme Planning region
Total budget
2 168 674,70 EUR, including 1 800 000 EUR ERDF and 386 674,70 EUR
National financing
Infrastructure
56,7 % from total budget – 1 230 590.21 EUR
Project idea
4
The overall objective of the project is to improve conditions for sustainable water tourism
development and to increase competitiveness of water tourism in the Programme area.
Specific objective is to develop programme area as attractive water tourism destination by
 vitalizing rivers and seacoast by improving infrastructure for tourists (by the rivers, lakes,
coast) - installation of resting areas and piers, information stands, signs, floating bridges,
cleaning rivers.
 developing new water tourism products for different target groups in Latvia, Estonia,
Lithuania, Russia, Germany and Finland;
 promoting water tourism as active tourism component in Latvia and Estonia as also in 4
target markets – Lithuania, Russia, Germany, Finland in order to achieve an increase in
number of leisure tourists in project area
Project structure
WP 1
Project
management
and
coordination
WP 2
Competence
and product
development
13,6%
5,5%
5
WP 3
Infrastructure
59,4%
WP 4
Marketing
21,3%
Project regions
Cooperation and involvment of
Cooperation
 involvment
Around 40 rivers are covered in
and
of the project
Coastline
More
than in Estonia (Laane county)
40with
rivers
infrustructure and coastline
 Lakes
in Latvia with product
 Coastline
in
development
and marketing
Estonia
activities;
(Laane
county
6
Project – for whom and how?
7
Cooperation and involvment of
 SME’s operating in field of active tourism, including canoing tourism
operators in the project area rivers and other water tourism resources
(lakes, coast);
 SME’s, public sector and NGO operating in tourism services and
attractions (accommodation, cafes, tourism sites etc.) in Project area
around rivers and other water tourism resources (lakes, coast);
 Tourism specialists, experts, tourism information centre officers, NGO,
which coordinate tourism development;
 Institutions involved in the maintenance and protection of nature values,
including rivers, lakes, coast – nature protection bodies, managing
institutions (NGO, state, municipal);
Main Project activities
WP1 Project
management and
coordination
WP2
Competence and
product development
WP3
Infrastructure
WP4
Marketings
8
 Expeditions as a tool to explore, research and study each
region nature and active tourism potential
 Experience exchange, study cases, field visits,
networking;
 Trainings, workshops for tourism entrepreneurs, local
tourism developers and local tourism service
providers;
 At least 15 new tourism products in whole project
area developed by the entrepreneurs with the support
and ecouragment of the project;
 Raised awareness about the management of
rivers/coastline as nature resource and source which
can generate income for local economies
(cooperation, waste problems, nature protection);
 Identified new tourism development potentials in
projects regions;
Main Project activities
WP1 Project
management and
coordination
WP2
Competence and
product development
WP3
Infrastructure
WP4
Marketings
9
 4 Experience exchange visits for water tourism
entrepreneurs to exchange experience, gain knowldege,
establish contacts:
 in Estonia - to introduce water tourism developments,
problems.
 in Latvia – to introduce water tourism developments,
problems.
 in Finland – to introduce sea kayaking and cruise tourism
ships operation in rivers, coastline areas;
 in Lithuania – to introduce water tourism developemnt in
Lithunia, case studies in rivers management
 Q-Latvia development for the active and canoing tourism
service providers, including elaboration of criterias,
“Mistery shopping”, Best Practise Manual
Main Project activities
WP1 Project
management and
coordination
WP2
Competence and
product development
WP3
Infrastructure
WP4
Marketing
10
 20 rivers will be cleaned by removal of fallen trees,
household waste and garbage
 125 Information stands
 232 Signs to orientate tourists (road signs and signs
on the rivers)
 107 resting areas along the rivers
 26 floating bridges, timber pontoons
 7 sections of access roads to the starting/finish
points of boating
 5 viewpoints (watching tower, platforms,
viewpoints)
 1 steam ship
Main Project activities – WP4
WP1 Project
management and
coordination
WP2
Competence and
product development
WP3
Infrastructure
WP4
Marketing
11
 Printed materials
 Water tourism map of the whole project area;
 Detailed brochures:
 guide of rivers;
 detailed brochures for foreign target markets;
 specific brochures to promote coastal
water/active/nature tourism possibilities.
 Inserts in daily newspapers in Latvia and Estonia
 Electronic solutions
 Web platform and mobile applications for commonly used
smartphones,
 Image films on Internet,
 Electronic insert in Finnish newspaper;
 Direct events for target markets:
 Great Baltic Travel action – for travelers to encourage
explore water/active and nature tourism holidays in Latvia
and Estonia;
 4 Familiarization trip for journalists and 3 promotional
tours to promote water tourism possibilities;
 Media campaign in Russia – to attract new market and pay
attention to nature tourism possibilities in both countries;
Aiga Petkēvica
Kurzeme Planning Region
Project manager
Phone +371 67338738; +371 29483674
Skype: aiga_petkevica
e-pasts: aiga.petkevica@kurzemesregions.lv