Fostering Capacity for Tourism Development in Latgale-Utena-Vitebsk Cross Border Region

Short title: Bella Dvina 2

WINNER OF THE "BEST PUBLIC RELATIONS" NOMINATION OF THE PROGRAMME

Beneficiary: Latgale Planning Region (Daugavpils, Latvia)
Partners: Latgale Region Development Agency (Daugavpils, Latvia), Anyksciai District Municipality Administration (Anyksciai, Lithuania), Utena Tourism Information Centre (Utena, Lithuania), Zarasai District Municipality Administration (Zarasai, Lithuania), Polotsk City Executive Committee (Polotsk, Belarus), Braslav District Executive Committee (Braslav, Belarus), Miory District Executive Committee (Miory, Belarus), Verkhnedvinsk District Executive Committee (Verkhnedvinsk, Belarus), Rossony District Executive Committee (Rossony, Belarus), Local Foundation for Promotion of International Dialogue and Cooperation "Interakciya" (Minsk, Belarus)

Associates: Committee on Economy of Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee (Vitebsk, Belarus), Department on Education, Sport and Tourism of Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee (Vitebsk, Belarus)

PROBLEM: The common problem of the cross-border territory is the lack of joint public tourism service system which can result in low economic performance, growing unemployment and inefficient use of local resources.  The cooperation in the project between Latvia, Lithuania and Belarus will develop and promote joint tourism traditions, improve public tourism infrastructure and diversify tourism offers to reach better results in attracting tourists and visitors.

OBJECTIVES: The partners aimed to continue promoting cross-border region of Latvia, Lithuania and Belarus as a joint tourism destination – Bella Dvina – through fostering tourism infrastructure and promotion, and strenghtening of cooperation among tourism sector specialists.  

RESULTS&OUTPUTS: 11 partners from Latvia, Lithuania and Belarus continued branding Bella Dvina border region as one tourist attraction (consisting of Latgale region in Latvia, Aukstaitija region in Lithuania and Vitebsk Oblast in Belarus). The Bella Dvina was presented jointly in 8 international tourism exhibitions in Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus and Russia. The partners have also organised 6 spectacular tourism festivals, as well as joint tourism forum and conference in 3 countries attracting attention of around 12000 local people and visitors of the region.
11 public recreation objects were created or renovated and became available for tourists in Latgale, Aukštaitija and Vitebsk regions. Over 360 tourism specialists and tourism service providers increased their capacity during 3 trainings organised. Several sets of equipment for needs of municipal tourism information centres were purchased.
The partners have organised a wide marketing campaign of joint tourism destinations including promotion clips, TV and radio broadcasting, articles, brochures, tourism maps, promotion tours for tourism operators and representatives of mass media. Over 700 information and direction signs were installed. As the result of the project 5 new Latvian, Lithuanian and Belarusian cross-border tourism routes were developed.

Project number:	LLB-1-098
Grant Contract number:	1VL-128
Total budget:	1 789 387 €
EU contribution:	1 610 448,30 €
Implementation period:	27 months (02.2012-05.2014)
Contact:	Tatjana Kozačuka  Saules Street 15, LV-5401, Daugavpils, Latvia +37165428111+37165428111; tatjana.kozacuka@latgale.lv; www.latgale.lv