Introduction of Project “Amber Road” Presentation for the conference “Cultural tourism in Western Lithuania” Administration of Palanga City Municipalality Lina Šemetulskytė

Project’s stages I. Project “Development of cutural tourism in Lithuanian seaside while integrating into European Amber Road” ( ). II. Baltic Amber Road: heritage, tourism and crafts” ( ).

Project’s value and financial sources Value of two accomplished projects ~943 thousand Lt. Granted subsidy ~741 thousand Lt. Financial sources: Means of European Community (PHARE ESS 2000 and PHARE SPF 2001), Palanga City Municipality’s co-financing, means of partners.

Executor and partners of project Declarant and executor: Administration of Palanga City Municipality. Partners: Board of Seaside Regional Park, Palanga Botanical Park, Palanga Amber Museum, Palanga Guild of Amber Craftsmen, Municipalities of Liepoja, Jurmala (Latvia) and Neringa cities.

Aims of the project To stimulate the development of tourism in Klaipėda – Tauragė region, increase the streams of local and incoming tourism, solve the seasonal problem, integrate into the international routes of tourism. To develop and propagate the tourist route’s “Amber Road“ conception as product’s of cultural tourism, using the resources of cultural heritage and nature, to strengthen the co-operation of frontier regions, create favourable conditions for the small and medium businesses of Palanga amber processing, to induce interaction between different socioeconomical sectors: cultural, tourist and crafts’.

Project’s results - marketing 1-3 day packages of tourist route “Amber Road”: “Lithuanian Amber Road” (1 day), “Baltic Amber Road: Lithuania - Latvia” (2 days), “Baltic Amber Road: Latvia - Lithuania - Kaliningrad region” (3 days). The plan of tourist route’s marketing means is created. Experts Assoc.Prof.Dr.A.Armaitienė, Assoc.Prof.Dr.P.Grecevičius, M.Užpelkis. Aim of route – introduce to tourists and travellers the existence of amber in Lithuania, Latvia and Kaliningrad region, including historical moments, extraction, processing and jewellery.

Project’s results - marketing Tourist editions about the route are published in Lithuanian and foreign languages. The editions are spread in touristic exhibitions, tourist information centres, the visited objects of tourist route. The token (UAB “Nada Focus”) of touristic route “Amber Road” is created. Touristic route is introduced to tourism agencies (3 days demonstration tour)

Project’s results - marketing The Palanga Tourism Information Centre annually introduces tourist route “Amber Road” in the international exhibitions of tourism.

Project’s results – Information System for Tourism Informational stands, references in the objects of tourist route “Amber Road” that are located in the territory of Palanga City Municipality, exposition about the route in Karklė are arranged.

Project results - marketing The multilingual web page of tourist route “Baltic Amber Road” ( is createdwww.balticamberroad.net

Public tourism infrastructure is improved/created Project is prepared, building in which the demonstrational workshops of amber processing are created is reconstructed. The special equipment for amber processing is purchased.

The svv stimulation of amber craftsmen The special training courses for the Palanga Amber Craftsmen that are dedicated to the introduction of the route, the idea of amber processing workshops, role of amber craftsmen in the demonstrational workshops were arranged. The partnership agreement is signed between Palanga City Municipality and Palanga Guild of Amber Craftsmen concerning granting of the reconstructed building - workshops - to the guild. Show-cases for amber souvenirs demonstration and sales are arranged in Palanga resort settling institutions.

Public infrastructure of tourism is improved/created Toilet is reconstructed, shower rooms are arranged (in the territory of Botanical Park). Benches, bicycle stands, dustbins are arranged in the Botanical Park, 3 relaxation squares are arranged and equipped in the Botanical Park and 1 relaxation ground is equipped in the Seaside Regional Park.

Influence of project The offer of tourist attractions in the Lithuanian seaside is developed. Public infrastructure that is connected with tourism is improved. The tourist image of Palanga resort is improved as well as awareness of tourist resources of Palanga, Neringa, Liepoja and Kaliningrad region. SVV of Palanga Amber Craftsmen Guild is stimulated.

Problematic Further spread of infrastructure of tourist route “Amber Road” and of tourist information system, the fulfilling of marketing measures. Co-ordination of general actions. The actions of partners while supporting the project results.

Thank You for Your Attention! Lina Šemetulskytė Head of Palanga City Municipality’s Administration’s Department for Economical Development Tel.: (8~460) Fax.: (8~460) 48125