Dr. Elena Kropinova, Assocate Prof., I.Kant Baltic Federal University, (prepared with Anna Belova, I.Kant Baltic Federal University Gdansk, January, 2013

Tourism potential of the Kaliningrad region Direct: Wild Nature Rich biodiversity of unique species of animals and plants (some of which are included in the “Red book”) Diverse ecosystems (bogs, marshes, littoral meadows, etc.) Complementary: - Ethno-cultural heritage - Information centers for eco-tourism - Eco-tourism infrastructure and eco-routes

Tourism potential of Kaliningrad region Tourism map of Kaliningrad region (The Geographical Atlas of Kaliningrad region)

Kaliningrad region in EU tourism projects Programmes of cooperation Finished programmes: - Baltic Sea Region Neighbourhood Programme INTERREG III B/TACIS (2000 – 2006)- … tourism projects - “Lithuania – Poland – Kaliningrad region of Russian Federation” Neighbourhood Programme INTERREG III A/TACIS ( )- tourism projects projects

Baltic Sea Region Neighbourhood Programme INTERREG III B/TACIS (2000 – 2006) Project: “Lagomar - natural and cultural heritage in the southern Baltic Sea: Challenges and Prospects” (Results: The result of the project was to create a network within which the exchange of knowledge and experience in the study of the historical building bays.) Project: “AGORA - the sustainable tourism development in the Baltic Sea Region” (Results: Network Sustainable Tourism Development in the Baltic Sea Region» achieved impressive results in the coordination of sustainable tourism in the Baltic Sea region. It resulted in increased level of cooperation and quality of tourism in the region also prepared a strategy for sustainable tourism in the Baltic Sea region. ) Project “VBNDZ” – “Via Baltica Nordica Development Zone”. (Results: The foci of the project activities concentrated on: tourism and railway traffic, cultural landscape management and tourism, usage of GIS/Internet systems. The project was a combination of concrete, very local activities and the true transnational dimension, insured by the forum to be organised regularly. The project implemented a development strategy created for the Zone as a main outcome of the BSR Interreg II C project “Via Baltica Spatial Development Zone”.)

Baltic Sea Region Neighbourhood Programme INTERREG III B/TACIS (2000 – 2006) Project “BWC” – “Baltic Welcome Center for a high quality sustainable development of cities and regions in the BSR in the frame of spatial planning aspects”. (Results: Handbook on service quality standards & guidelines for tourist information and visitor centres in the Baltic Sea Region was issued; New IT-solutions were developed by the project including the common BWC portal – a virtual visitor centre that provides access to detailed tourist information produced and updated by the partner organisations.). Project “BalticFortRoute” – “Baltic Culture and Tourism Route Fortresses”. (Results: The innovative project developed new marketing instruments and economic concepts for cultural and tourist utilization. It promoted transnational scientific cooperation in monument protection as well as creating strategies of reconstruction and nature management.)

Baltic Sea Region Neighbourhood Programme INTERREG III B/TACIS (2000 – 2006) Project “Castle Tomorrow” – “Development of castles and manor houses of BSR as cultural heritage objects and town centers in rural areas”. (Results: Handbook of Tools for Sustainable Heritage Conservation: basic teaching, information and learning resource. Version in LT,LV,EE, PL, RU; Videos gallery on Industry Best Practice objects and Pilot sites from the project; Model for cultural heritage objects development.) Project “Seagull” – “Seagull-DevERB”. (Results: Cruise Tourism in the Baltic and Bothnian Sea – a pilot study on maritime tourism was prepared and published; Joint Development Programme Strategy was prepared.) Project “Seagull II” – “Russian component of the Development Strategy for Euroregion “Baltic” (Results: The book “Perspectives for development of interregional cooperation: Kaliningrad region within Euroregion Baltic” was issued in RU and EN languages.)

Lithuania-Poland-Kaliningrad oblast of RF NP INTERREG III A/TACIS ( ) Project “Reconstruction of international Amber Route – first stage in Pruszcz Gdanski. (Results:Construction and making of 1500 meters of amber path for pedestrians and byciclists as well as setting up the Baltic International cultural park in Pruszcz Gdanski, Poland, which is the first point of the link connecting Poland, Kaliningrad region and Lithuania.) Project “Enhancement of Cultural Tourism infrastructure through New Culture and Education Facility”. (Results: The historic building in Goldap was renovated and equipped to serve as the international cultural and educational center.) Project “Cultural and Historical heritage use for tourism purposes in Pagegiai, Ilawa and Sovetsk borderline regions”. (Results: The quay was constructed and the park was renovated in Pagegiai municipality, the memorial of Bering in Ilawa was restorated)

Lithuania-Poland-Kaliningrad oblast of RF NP INTERREG III A/TACIS ( ) Project “Development of structures promoting historical heritage in Sopot, Gdansk, Svetlogorsk and Ozersk”. (Results: New equipment for museums in Sopot, Gdansk and Svetlogorsk was purchased, archaeological research camp for young people was organised in Ozersk, the concept of the open-air museum “Georgenswalde” for Brachert museum in Svetlogorsk was developed). Project “Development of tourism on base of European square in Suwalki and Miesto Sodas in Alitus”. (Results: The infrastructure objects were renovated (European square in Suwalki, park in Alitus), six trilateral culture events were conducted in Suwalki and Alitus. ) Project “Creation of cross-border bicycle trail along old post road on Curonian Spit: EUROVELO-BALTICA”. (Results: The technical documentation for construction the bicycle path on the Russian part of Curonian Spit was developed, the number of seminars, conferences and workshops on tourism development on Curonian Spit were organised and conducted.)

Lithuania-Poland-Kaliningrad oblast of RF NP INTERREG III A/TACIS ( ) Project “Tourism infrastructure for Berlin-Kaliningrad-Klaipeda waterway in Tczew and Klaipeda”. (Results: the sailing and passenger port in Tczew was constructed, feasibility study for construction of bicycle paths in port of Klaipeda was developed.) Project “Support to development of common recreation space in macro-region”. (Results: the tourism information center in Kaliningrad was opened; the fundaments of the Kaliningrad tourism promotion strategy was developed; Palanga resort was promoted among the tourists from Russia.)

Lithuania-Poland-Kaliningrad oblast of RF NP INTERREG III A/TACIS ( ) Project “Harmonising Development of landscape: formation of environment of tourism objects by implanting new plants”. (Results: Five Lithuanian parks and seven Russian parks have been examinated and the plants for decorating them were planted; the fontane in Kaliningrad Botanic garden was reconstructed; database of tourist attractions and plants was created; technical documentation for establishing a laboratory within the Botanical garden of the Klaipeda University was prepared.) Project “Development of tourism in frontier areas by means of preservation of valuable plants of wild flora”. (Results:The map of the rare plants of the border area was created; ecological paths were developed by project partners.)

Lithuania-Poland-Kaliningrad oblast of RF NP INTERREG III A/TACIS ( ) Project “On trail of castles in Baltic Sea Region – Revitalization and promotion objects”. (Results: The Strategy for tourism development at nine Gothic Castles in the Kaliningrad region was prepared; technical documentation for the renovation and conservation of the castle in Polessk (Labiau) was elaborated; four-lingual publications about the castles were issued and disseminated among tourism information offices in RU, PL and LT.) Project “Opening of water tourism route connection in Curonian lagoon: Klaipeda-Kaliningrad”. (Results: The international water tourism route from Klaipeda to Nida (LT) was opened; the promotion activities in order to review water tourism in the Curonian lagoon between Klaipeda and Kaliningrad were conducted.)

Lithuania-Poland-Kaliningrad oblast of RF NP INTERREG III A/TACIS ( ) Project “Development of common cultural sphere of Euroregion Nemunas”. (Results: Two cultural centers opened in Russia: the branch of the Historical and Artistic museum of Kaliningrad in Nesterov district, Chistyje Prudy village and the center in the Cherniahovsk old castle; a number of cultural tourism promotion matherials (including 6000 maps) were published; commom cultural tourism strategy was drawn.) Project “CROSSROADS” – “Lagoons as cultural and historical crossroads of peoples in South-Eastern Baltic area”. (Results: Number of expeditions along lagoons’ area were organised; the cultural and historical objects were registered; digital exhibitions were developed and presented on info-terminals;the Strategy and Action Plan for development of maritime cultural and historical heritage for the Russian part of Curonian and Vistula lagoons’ area were elaborated; technical documentation for construction of an open-air museum of Viking epoch on the Curonian Spit was developed; two festivals of historical reconstruction of viking epoch were conducted in Zelenogradsk district.)

CROSSROADS

Baltic Sea Region Programme Project “AGORA 2.0” – “Heritage Tourism for Increased Baltic Sea Region Identity”. Implementation period: Project goal: improving the common identity of the Baltic Sea Region, based on its rich natural and cultural treasures. Results: Analyses on heritage tourism objects of the partner countries were prepared; survey on tourism perception in Curonian Spit (KO part of the project) and in BSR in general was made and results were published; tourism portal BASTIS was created.

Baltic Sea Region Programme Project “EcoRegion” – “The Baltic 21 Eco Region project”. Implementation period: Project goal: Promoting the Baltic Sea Region in the first environmentally and economically sustainable region in the world. Results: (for Kaliningrad region) Analysis of ecotourism potential of the pilot districts (Vistula and Curonian lagoons costal area) was made; Map of the eco-routes within the Vistula and Curonian lagoons costal area (existing and potential) was created; The role of eco-tourism for sustainable development of Kaliningrad region as one of the Eco-regions in the BSR was described.

Eco Region

Current Projects (signed grant contracts) Lithuania-Poland-Russia ENPI Cross-Border Cooperation Programme : LPR1/010/181 Title of the project: Baltic Touristic Games – know-how for development of tourism potential of Baltic Region Lead Partner: Palanga Town Municipality Administration (Lithuania) Partners: Administration of Svetlogorsk Town (Russian Federation) Objectives: to develop sports and active tourism in the border cooperation area by providing modern sport infrastructure and development of better conditions for active tourism.

Current Projects LPR1/010/049 Title of the project: Baltic Amber Coast. Development of crossborder area through building up and modernization of tourism infrastructure Lead Partner: Sztutowo Commune (Poland) Partners: Krynica Morska Municipality (Poland), Stegna Commune (Poland), Ustka Municipality (Poland), Administration of the Municipality “Jantarniy Urban District” (Russia, Kaliningrad Oblast) Objectives:to strengthen the tourism potential and increase tourist traffic in the crossborder cooperation area through the creation of the tourism product Baltic Amber Coast and the improvement of maritime tourism infrastructure.

Current projects Lithuania-Poland-Russia ENPI Cross-Border Cooperation Programme : LPR1/010/044 Title of the project: Baltic Amber Coast. Development of the Cross-border Area through Building up and Modernisation of Tourism Infrastructure. Part II. Lead Partner: Administration of "Yantarny Urban District" Municipality (Russia) Partners: Sztutowo Commune (Poland), Stegna Commune (Poland), Krynica Morska Municipality (Poland), Ustka Municipality (Poland) Objectives: to contribute to the development of the tourist potential in the Programme area through improvement of capacity of tourism infrastructure in Yantarny municipality (Russia) and integration of Yantarny into tourist routes network.

Current projects Lithuania-Poland-Russia ENPI Cross-Border Cooperation Programme : LPR1/010/060 Title of the project: Museums over the borders Lead Partner: Museum of Archaeology and History in Elblag (Poland) Partners: Museum “Friedland Gate” (Russia) Objectives: the increasing of the economic potential and deepening of the integration of the cross-border regions and promotion of joint innovative tourist products based on joint cultural heritage.

Current projects Lithuania-Poland-Russia ENPI Cross-Border Cooperation Programme : LPR1/010/001 Title of the project: "Lagoons as crossroads for tourism and interactions of peoples of South-East Baltic: from the history to present (CROSSROADS 2.0)" Lead Partner: Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University (Russia) Partners: Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University (Russia), Kaliningrad Regional Museum of History and Arts (Russia), Kaliningrad regional youth public organisation “Traditional group “Speaking Water” (Russia), Administration of Federal State Establishment “National park “Curonian Spit” (Russia), Administration of Zelenogradsk district authority (Russia), Agency for Tourism of Kaliningrad region (Russia), The “Elblag-Europa” Association (Poland), Scientific Association “Pruthenia” (Poland), Folk Architecture Museum and Ethnographic Park in Olsztynek (Poland), Polish Maritime Museum in Gdansk (Poland), European Found for Monument Protection (Poland), Administration of Neringa Municipality (Lithuania), Klaipeda University (Lithuania)

CROSSROADS Lagoons as crossroads for tourism and interactions of peoples of South-East Baltic: from the history to present. Project objectives: 1. Preparation and implementation of small-scale investments into development and renovation of existing and creation of new objects of innovative tourism infrastructure, which are based on the rich and unique common cultural and historical heritage of the cross-border area and allow to use this heritage for the joint creation of the cross- border tourist products contributing to the regional growth; 2. Strengthening the collaboration between people, NGOs and local authorities and support of joint actions in the sphere of development, promotion and quality improvement of the tourist products in the cross-border area of Vistula and Curonian lagoons. 3. Implementation of joint actions aimed at protection and sustainable use of cultural and historical heritage of cross-border area of Lithuania, Poland and Kaliningrad region of Russian Federation adjacent to the Curonian and Vistula lagoons

Thank you for your attention! Hope for fruitful cooperation within our common started project! Elena Kropinova picture by Beti