Good Practice - Project
Community-based tourism to promote lesser-known regions of Lithuania
LEADER project promoting sustainable tourism development in lesser-known regions of Lithuania.
General information
RDP Priority
- P6. Social inclusion and local development
RDP Focus Area
- 6B: Local development
RDP Measure
- M19: LEADER/CLLD
Summary
The Navininkai children’s day centre, which is a branch of Lithuanian College of Democracy Education in Aukštadvaris, and the ‘Aukštadvarios žiburiai’ association used LEADER funding to implement the ‘Atrask.eu’ project. The project aims to promote sustainable tourism development in Lithuania, with a focus on showcasing the lesser-known regions of the country and their unique cultural and natural heritage. The project activities included mapping these lesser-known regions and their cultural and natural heritage; creating educational materials for visitors and local residents; and creating a table game for kids, named ‘Atrask.eu’, designed to test their knowledge of the local legends and history of the Aukštadvaris region.
Results
- Increased the interest in the lesser-known regions of Lithuania among domestic and international tourists.
- Encouraged the preservation of local cultural heritage and natural resources for future generations.
- Fostered social inclusion by promoting interactions between visitors and local residents.
- Created new opportunities for economic development in the region.
Promoter
Children’s Day Centre ‘Navininkai’
Funding
Total budget 45 831.00 (EUR)
EAFRD 36 916.35 (EUR)
National/Regional 6 614.65 (EUR)
Private/own funds 2 300.00 (EUR)
Resources
Documents
EU CAP Network -Good Practice - Community-based tourism Lithuania
(PDF – 1.66 MB)
Links
Context
The ‘Atrask.eu’ project has its roots in the work of a group of social educators from the Navininkai Children’s Day Centre branch of the Lithuanian College of Democracy Education located in Aukštadvaris, Trakai region. For years, the centre’s visitors have interacted with the Aukštadvario žiburiai senior club listening to their stories about the history of the region, celebrating together and even baking pastries. Through their work, the educators recognised the potential for community-based tourism initiatives to promote social inclusion and economic development in the region.
Based on current tourism statistics in Lithuania, there was a clear need for sustainable tourism initiatives that go beyond the traditional destinations and types of accommodation favoured by foreign tourists. By promoting community-based tourism and highlighting the cultural and natural attractions of lesser-known regions, the ‘Atrask.eu’ project helps to diversify Lithuania's tourism sector and provide new opportunities for local economic development.
Objectives
This LEADER project aims to promote sustainable tourism development in Lithuania, with a focus on showcasing the lesser-known regions of the country and their unique cultural and natural heritage.
Activities
The main project activities involved:
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Mapping lesser-known regions and their cultural and natural heritage. This activity involved identifying and mapping out the unique cultural and natural attractions of lesser-known regions in Lithuania in conversation with local stakeholders and experts in cultural and natural heritage.
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Creation of educational materials for visitors and residents. This activity focused on creating educational materials, such as brochures, videos and other media, which provide information on the history, culture and natural environment of Lithuania's lesser-known regions.
More specifically, the project:
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Created six interactive maps of lesser-known regions of Lithuania, including Navininkai and Aukštadvaris, to promote sustainable tourism.
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Developed an online application, Atrask.eu, that helps travellers discover the picturesque nature of the region.
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Conducted training sessions for local tour guides on sustainable tourism practices.
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Organised five cultural events, including concerts, art exhibitions, and traditional craft fairs, to promote local cultural heritage.
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Created a table game named ‘Atrask.eu’ for children and families to learn about the history and legends of the region.
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Installed information boards and wayfinding markers at key tourism sites to provide visitors with information about the area's history, culture, and natural attractions.
Main Results
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Increased awareness of and interest in the lesser-known regions of Lithuania among domestic and international tourists. Hence, the project increased the number of tourists visiting these regions of Lithuania and promoted sustainable tourism practices.
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Encouraged the preservation of local cultural heritage and natural resources for future generations.
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Fostered social inclusion by promoting interactions between visitors and local residents, particularly between children and the elderly.
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Created new opportunities for economic development in the region through the promotion of tourism activities and created new job opportunities for local residents.
Key lessons and recommendations
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Implementing the project or applying for support revealed unexpected challenges, including people's indifference and/or their fear of competition.
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There were pleasant surprises, such as the enthusiastic involvement of children from the day care centre and the discovery of interesting ways to present the project.
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To improve its outreach, the project should aim for a larger public community and make necessary adaptations for wider reaching communication.