Base de Datos de Proyectos de PDR

The Leader project encourages local communities to identify and develop innovative community tourism activities, using local traditions, storytelling, rural skills and heritage sites in their area to further impose the image of local distinctiveness.

Pembrokeshire Advance (Narberth, United Kingdom)

This transnational cooperation (TNC) project, which is also funded under measures 313 (encouragement of tourism activities) and 321 (basic services for the economy and rural population), has been developed with input from Welsh and European partners supporting community led tourism based on heritage and culture. Cooperating both within and beyond Wales, the lead partner aims for an exchange of ideas and best practice, to increase awareness of issues and to show how joint work can address them.

The main aim is to explore how partners engage with rural communities to develop and promote sustainable tourism experiences based on local heritage and culture. The joint improvement of knowledge and skills is expected to strengthen each areas' image as a tourist destination. The project's specific objectives are to: i) share community engagement practices leading to the elaboration of tourism products; ii) share partnership knowledge built between tourism providers and local communities/organisatons promoting sustainable heritage- and culture-based tourism products, and; iii) examine how other countries package and promote initiatives that relate to the development of sustainable tourism.

Transnational networking events, study visits, information exchange and ICT activities are geared towards the achievement of the project's objectives. In addition, a best practice guide and an online forum (https://www.dmwales.com/content/community-tourism-forum) provide examples of successful community tourism activities. The selection from across Wales and Europe focuses on the benefits of sustainable rural tourism, for example through the development of heritage trails, eco-museums etc.

Partners expect the participation of 50 representatives from local groups & organisations involved in tourism will improve the quality and variety of heritage/culture tourism products offered, thus attracting increased numbers of visitors in the future. International exposure is also expected to create potential of attracting foreign visitors to the participating areas. Specific development opportunities for sustainable tourism activities have been identified and are examined further, jointly or locally as appropriate. Examples include Finnish/Welsh cruise company contacts, Czech considerations to establish a blacksmith trail and Wales conducts an audit of its community tourism activities.

Involving local people from the outset so that they can shape the project utilising their knowledge and skills is essential, but can be a lengthy process. TNC rules differ between countries, which can lead to delays in project start-ups/ends by individual partners, but perseverance and patience pay off at the end. Open discussion with partners and being realistic about what can be achieved. Straightforward financial arrangements from the outset.

Pembrokeshire (Wales, UK); Province of Southern Finland (Päijänne Tavastia region, Finland); Czech Budejovice district (Jihočeský kraj South Region, Czech Republic); South Lanarkshire (Scotland, UK); Province of Taranto (Puglia Region, Italy); Primorska (Obalno-kraška Region, Slovenia).

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https://www.planed.org.uk/wordpress/2012/02/adding-value-to-community-tourism

Kate Lindley

kated@planed.org.uk

+44 1834 862109

English