PROJECT OBJECTIVE
To increase the number of visitors in Latvia and Lithuania border regions by further developing the created cross-border Cultural tourism route “Balts’ Road”.
TARGET GROUP
- Local and foreign travellers
- School children and youngsters
- Tourism service providers – entrepreneurs, local municipalities, museums, guides
PROJECT DURATION
1 June 2020 – 31 May 2023
PROJECT FINANCING
869 689,02 EUR (i.a. ERDF funding 739 235,65 EUR)
PROJECT PARTNERS
The Project is implemented by the Lead Partner – Silauliai Tourism Information Centre in cooperation with 6 partners from Latvia and Lithuania:
Kurzeme Planning Region, www.kurzemesregions.lv
Zemgale Planning Region, www.zemgale.lv
Kuldīga County Municipality, www.kuldiga.lv
Rundāle County Municipality, www.rundale.lv
National Regions’ Development Agency, www.nrda.lt
Klaipeda District Tourism Information Centre, www.klaipedosrajonas.lt
PROJECT SUMMARY
The project focuses on further development of the route “Balts’ Road”, by facilitating its recognition and information accessibility in order to increase the number of visitors through:
- activities aimed at raising awareness and recognition – exchange visits between stakeholders, training of guides and other stakeholders, photos, organization of the Balts’ Unity Days etc.,
- new innovative and sustainable tourism information system by improving the homepage www.baltukelias.lt, new solutions for projecting the balts’ history outdoors (3D animation, augmented reality, etc.),
- promotional activities by developing pocket books for travellers, participating in tourism fairs, cooperating with online media etc.
The project “Explore Balts” is a continuation to the Project “Balts’ Road”, where the 2145 km long Balts’ Road route had been developed. The route has been created in several loops, by covering the areas in Latvia and Lithuania once inhabited by Curonians (~ 790 km), Semigallians (~ 620 km) and Sellonians (~ 735 km).
Balts’ Road combines unique natural and cultural objects such as Balts’ cult areas: springs, trees, forests and lakes, exclusive monuments, modern interesting places, educational programs offered by craftsmen and local cuisine.
One of the aims of the project is to learn how to efficiently run projects associated with culture, cultural tourism and cultural routes. This will be done with the help of experience-sharing and experience-gaining study visit to the famous Viking Route in Sweden and participation in tourism fairs and exchange visits between regions of the Balts’ Road.
Project will use a number innovative solutions: 3D movies, virtual reality tours, educational programs for children and pupils at the Balts’ Centre in Siauliai city, installation of environmental objects in Sēlpils, improvement of the Mežotne Hillfort area by reconstructing the pedestrian footpath, sightseeing platform etc. and reconstruction of the Klaipeda district tourism center by repairing premises and using symbols of ancient balts, installment of interactive map of Klaipeda district that shows the most attractive places to visit to encourage tourists to explore the “Balts’ Road” objects and sites. Project activities are aimed to raise awareness about ancient Balts and to further continue the development of the “Balts’ Road”.
Project Coordinator at Kurzeme Planning Region:
Alise Lūse
Tel.: +371 26567874, alise.luse@kurzemesregions.lv
