The capital gathered by the Programme and its Tourism Projects during their implementation until 2013 and possible use of this capital for the ENI June, 2013 Sigulda, Latvia

2 What is Thematic Capitalisation? Partnerships => implementation of projects Scope of knowledge (tackling issues at local and/or regional level) Valorisation of experience Elaboration of toolsUse by stakeholders

3 Functional structure of the initiative? Analyse project results Use the results of exercise Provide thematic input Coordination of Capitalisation exercise Joint Technical Secreta- riat Project partners Thematic experts Stake- holders

4 Main Objectives of Thematic Capitalisation 1.More efficient use of the knowledge resulting from projects working on a similar topic. 2.Ensure the impact on policy making process at regional, local, national and European levels. 3.Increase the Programme visibility for wider dissemination of capitalised knowledge. 4.Transfer of experience represented in capitalised knowledge to ensure coherence and higher effectiveness of future programmes.

5 Target groups of Thematic Capitalisation Decision makers Programme bodies Final usersMultipliers Thematic Capitalisation

6 Capitalisation topic: tourism Why the tourism was chosen to be the first Capitalisation topic? Priority I “Socio-economic development” Measure 1.3. “Tourism development” Tourism sectors is the power engine for socio- economic growth of the border region, which due to its historical and cultural heritage and nature, has a high potential for its development. 7 Open Call projects Programme financing ~MEUR 16,4 1 Large Scale project

7 Tourism policy: focal points  Stimulation of competitiveness in the European tourism sector;  Promotion of development of sustainable, responsible and high quality tourism;  Diversification and increase in number of tourism products;  Eco-friendly and socially responsible tourism;  Working towards common image of Programme territory as the set of sustainable and high quality destinations. 4 projects foresee contribution to regional tourism development strategies!

8 Online survey of Tourism Projects

9 Respondents: beneficiaries of the projects Via Hanseatica trilateral projects along the Via Hanseatica in Estonia, Latvia and Russia Enjoy Latvia, Estonia and Russia SVS Activetour EstFortTour-2 bilateral projects; located on the border area of Narva (EST) and Ivangorod (RUS) – attractive tourism destination within Via Hanseatica Tourism Route River Promenades II Narva–Ivangorod (LSP) Exploring the narrow gauge railway bilateral project – Turi (EST) and St. Petersburg (RUS) - St. Petersburg is the most Nordic destination of Via Hanseatica Tour de Latgale and Pskov Oblast bilateral project – Latgale (LAT) and Pskov Oblast (RUS) – Pskov is Hanseatic Port city

10 Key dimensions of research  Networking  Partnership  Innovation  Integration (mainstreaming)  Governance  Sustainability  Usability  Capitalisation

11 Basis for design of the projects

12 Project Partnerships: criteria for choosing partners

13 Networking and identification of cross border added value

14 Areas of expected influence

15 Planned means of ensuring the project sustainability

16 Key elements to ensure the usability of project results

17 Capitalisation

18 Key findings (1) 1.Project ideas were generated jointly. 2.Applications were prepared by the Lead Partner with lesser support from the junior partners. 3.Development strategies, studies and researches were the most valuable source for elaborating the project idea and design. 4.Key criterion for choosing partners – relevant competencies.

19 Key findings (2) 5.Networking and cross border added value is expected to ensure by: −adoption of common deliverables/outputs/tools, −exchange of experiences and “know-how”, −establishment of stable relationships. 6.Creation of the brand new tool (deliverable) is the most innovative output to be expected by the projects. 7.Sustainability of project results highly depends on involvement of authorities. Successful involvement tools: −kick-off and partner meetings, −seminars, tourism fairs, etc., −individual cooperation agreements.

8.In order to ensure that the planned results become apart of the tourism sector mainstream, the projects expect to integrate them into existing policies/programmes on regional level. 9.Usability of the project: outputs (deliverables) are considered and expected to become benchmarks. 10.Key component for capitalisation - intensive communication of outputs and results to stakeholders. 20 Key findings (3)

21 Conclusions (1) o In most cases the Lead Partner carried the majority of work load on project design. o Coherence between the initiates developed by already completed, current and future projects acknowledged to be an essential tool for knowledge transfer and capitalisation. o Projects used traditional tools to exchange the experience: seminars, study visits, workshops, staff exchange, etc.

22 Conclusions (2) o Most Lead Partners underestimate the role of capitalisation, yet, consider innovations and usability of project results for the benefit of the region. o Project partners need additional support and training by the Programme to ensure understanding the role and potential of capitalisation. o Expected obstacles for transferring the project results and best practices are: regional differences, including specific conditions, size, cost and complexity.

23 Review of tourism Projects supported within the Open Call and Direct award (LSP) of the Programme

Enjoy the Best in Latvia, Estonia and Russia −2 thematic routes through 3 countries, including particular tourist and service offers; −Promo booklet “Enjoy the best in Latvia, Estonia and Russia”; −Tourist map for families with children; −Gourmands tourist route included into the booklet. Project budget – EUR ,00 Recreation for Families with Children and Gourmands developed and promoted

25 Advancing Remote Areas by Development of Cross-border Via Hanseatica Tourism Route on The Basis of Local Resources Via Hanseatica Tourism Route – a corridor of km aside the main road and the places on route. −3 electronic info terminals for provision of tourism information; −11 sets of tech. documentation to improve tourist sites and infrastructure along the Hansa Tourism Route; −Renovation and construction of 9 tourism infrastructure objects (historical sites and traffic facilities); −Creation of Avinurme “Wood Park” in Avinurme municipality. Project budget – EUR ,30

−Marketing strategy, feasibility study and the technical documentation for building a narrow gauge railway museum, Turi Railway Museum; −Marketing strategy, feasibility study and technical documentation for the narrow gauge railway exposition, Oktyabrsky Vagonoremontny Zavod, St. Petersburg. Project budget – EUR ,00 Exploring the History of Narrow Gauge Railway Promotion of narrow gauge railway thematic tourism field

−Improvement of 19 water-based tourism sites; −7 infrastructure sites in Latgale and Pskov regions; −Increase the capacity of Pskov Tourism Development Centre. Project budget – EUR ,20 Tour de Latgale and Pskov Rural, Sacral, Crafts, Cultural, Eco – 5 joint tourism routes developed and promoted

−Construction of 1,4 km of ski track including a cooled 1,1 km ski track; stadium and service house at the Active and sports centre in Sigulda and Laurenci; −Renovated and developed sports and playgrounds, soccer fields, volleyball and handball courts, paths at the Kubija Sports and Recreation Centre; −Construction of 2 sports service houses in St. Petersburg. Project budget – EUR ,00 Establishment of Environment in Võru, Sigulda, St. Petersburg for Development of Tourism Promotion of active and sports tourism by creating all year round sports facilities across three countries.

−Single audio-tour around Narva and Ivangorod Fortresses and Fortifications developed and promoted; −Improved access road to fortress and landscaping works implemented (Narva Castle); −Improved access road to fortress and landscaping works implemented (Ivangorod Fortress). Project budget – EUR ,85 Unique Estonian-Russian Fortresses Ensemble Development as a Single Tourist Product: Stage II Development of Narva and Ivangorod fortresses ensemble as a single tourism product.

−Narva: reconstruction of the upper level of historical promenade in the “Dark Garden” Park and the road along the park territory; −Ivangorod: construction of the northern part of historical river promenades thematically meant for Fish Market. Project budget – EUR ,67 Development of Historical Riverside Protection Area in Narva and Ivangorod: 2 nd Stage Improve the image of Narva and Ivangorod – living environment and recreation capacity. Promotion of promenades as tourism products.

−Narva: conservation and reconstruction of the Victoria bastion in the “Dark Garden” Park; −Ivangorod: conservation and reconstruction of the Small Powder Granary; −Creation of visitors welcome centres and interactive expositions both in Narva and Ivangorod. Project budget – EUR ,00 Development of Unique Narva- Ivangorod Fortresses Ensemble as a Single Cultural and Tourist Object

32 Programme impact on tourism development on the Programme territory (1) 1.Cumulative, complementary and synergetic nature of projects results; 2.Improvement of cross-border connections and accessibility of tourist destinations; 3.Infrastructure for active and cultural tourism; 4.Diversification of tourism sector by introduction of “niche” products and services; 5.Visibility and marketing of the tourism sector products;

33 Programme impact on tourism development on the Programme territory (2) 6.Safety and social responsibility of tourist destinations; 7.Focus on environmentally sustainable tourism; 8.Local cultures, traditions and creative initiatives are new frontiers; 9.Local people, NGOs and SMEs are sources for tourism sector development; 10.Networking and clustering.

34 Programme impact on the socio- economic development of the Programme territory How the tourism project results can actually contribute to socio-economic development of the region: 1.Directly and indirectly created SMEs and NGOs; 2.raised wellbeing of the local communities and increased life quality in the region; 3.Diversification of e-services in tourism sector; 4.Increased cross-border mobility of residents and tourists; 5.Simplified border crossing procedures; 6.Efficient use of infrastructural resource in tourism sector.

35 Conclusions (1) 1.The highest impact is provided by the projects, which have capacity to go on with the initiative after the project lifetime. 2.Grounds for capitalisation are created by those projects, which tackle complex issues in a practical and result-oriented way. The topical issues are: o new thematic tourism routes, o improved tourism sites infrastructure and technical documentation; o new working places; o Marketing tools and tourism strategies; o expanding cross-border cooperation; o fund-raising and promotional activities.

36 Conclusions (2) 3.In order to gain sustainability projects use advantages of the Programme territory: −programme territory is one of the main tourist corridors and the gateway to EU and Russia. −The tourism project results have high potential to be incorporated into local and regional tourism policies; THEMATIC CAPITALISATION IS…

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