Future of sustainable tourism in the Carpathians

CARPATHIAN SPACE – SWISS QUALITY – GLOBAL CLIENT

International Conference of the Swiss-Slovak Cooperation Programme „Nature-Based Tourism and Regional Development “

22. – 23. June 2015, Vysoké Tatry, Slovakia

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Outline of the presentation

1. Presumptions

2. Analysis

3. Structure of cooperation

4. Mechanisms for support tourism

5. Swiss inspiration

6. Priorities

7. Carpathian Brand CARPATHIA

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Presumtions

The future of sustainable tourism development in the Carpathians

depends on the cooperation at local and regional level

The most important role will play formalized, professional

structures for cooperation – on the local or community level as well

Concept of the Carpathian Brands will play a leading role

It is essential to the successful transfer of good practices

(transboundary in the Carpathinas) and external Swiss experience

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Strategic analysis

Baltic

Strategy

Danubian Strategy

There are no macro-regional strategy for the Carpathians

There are no operational program for the Carpathians

Transboundary cooperation between the Carpathian countries

Competitive strategies and program for the Baltic and the Danube

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Structure – interegional level

Carpathian Euroregion – territory/

social-economic potential

156 000 sq km

about 15 000 000 residents

20 years experience

Conditions for good cooperation:

geographic, economic, political

Mission

Common social-economic sphere

using internal Carpathian potentials

and broad territorial partnership of

public, private and non-

governmental sector entities for

international development

cooperation for enhancement of life

quality of their residents.

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Structure – national level

The Association of the Carpathian

Euroregion Poland since 2001

60 territorial self-government entity (JST)

members

Status as implementing institutions of the EU

CBC programs

Over 300 co-founded projects

About 1000 institutional stakeholders

Networks – cbc institutions – strategies

Mechanisms for support tourism in the Carpathians

1. International Cooperation – Carpathian Convention and it’s tools

2. EU programs – European Teritorial Cooperation – Microprojects

found

3. External aid – Swiss Contribution

4. Branding

EU Funds – European Teritorial Cooperation – good practice

Microproject Funds from PHARE CBC to ETC

- Euroregion has financed 87 touristic projects

- Good practice: Thematic Polish-Slovak - border village

- Budget: 50 000 EUR

- The project organized workshops on handicrafts presenting,

among others weaving techniques, cross-stitch, krywulki* of

Lemko run by artisans from Polish and Slovak. It was also open

gallery handicrafts, serving the transfer of knowledge on cultural

heritage and the creation of cross-border thematic villages. These

actions helped to increase the stimulation of residents of the

Commune Zarszyn and Niżna Sitnica and significantly raised the

tourist attractiveness of the border area.

* Krywulki is a traditional Carpathian Handmade jewelry from beads

EU Funds – European Territorial Cooperation

Swiss inspiration

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-Er4jPvUGI

Swiss inspiration – results

Swiss inspiration – developement 2015

1. Redefinition of the CE developement policy

2. Building real-working cooperation relations

3. Creating of the Carpathian Brand CARPATHIA

4. Creation and implementation of the Polish – Swiss Strategy for

innovation in the Carpathian tourism

5. Establishing of the Alpine – Carpathian Tourism Claster of

Knowlegde

6. Identification of the best practices (transboundary in Carpathians)

taken from swiss contribution projects in the field of tourism

7. Synergy effect of Carpathian Brand and CC Tourism Strategy

1. Implementation and monitoring of the Carpathian Brand

CARPATHIA with swiss experts assistance

2. Preparation of the new european projects with formal and

profesionnal participation of the swiss institutions

3. Analisys of the swiss contribution impact in the Carpathians

4. Networking of the „swiss” projects in the carpathians 5. Monitoring, intensification, profesionalization and enlargement of

the carpathian – swiss cooperation

Strategic priorities to 2020

1. Partnership reinforcement within Euroregion structures

(specialization + Euroregion+ rule)

2. Updating of the strategy „Carpathian Horizon 2020”

and its links to the other strategic documents

3. Creating virtual operational programme „Carpathian Horizon 2020”

4. Business - oriented of Euroregional actions

5. Close transboundary cooperation in the form of concrete on-side

projects / best practices as part of the Carpathian Convention

6. Support for the European and Global connections of the

Carpathian region

7. Implementing of the Carpathian Brand CARPATHIA Strategy

Planned activities 2015/2016 – carpathian brand CARPATHIA

Recruitment for the pilot groups Brands Carpathian (PL / SK / UA) - 06. 2015

Establish a system for certification of the Brand - 06.2015

Preparation of Pilot Package of the Brand - 09.2015

Brands appointment of the Steering Committee composed of scientists and

specialists. Tourism in all countries covered by the Convention- 12. 2015

Appointment DMO Brands and creating a system of national coordinators and the

implementation of the Convention by the Carpathia - 12. 2015

Organization of Alpine - Carpathian Cooperation Forum 09. 2015

Contracting partners and suppliers Brands 09- 12 2015

The opening of the first foreign offices Brands (Geneva, Luxembourg) - 2016

The preparation of packages of projects under the Operational Programme

Carpathian Virtual Horizon 2020

Implementation of pilot projects based on Polish - Swiss Carpathian Tourism

Development Strategy:

1. Carpathian Museum Card

2. Carpathian trail UNESCO

We invite you to cooperate !

www.visitcarpathia.com