Description (EN): Nature&culture heritage sites are national values contributing to the quality of life. They are also important source for education&recreation. But is it for all? Getting outdoors can be challenging - due to path being too narrow, too steep, rocky & due to lack of access to info&services. It affects not just those with disability, but also parents with children, seniors, in fact, the largest part of the population. EE&LV are amongst the top 10 countries in the world with the highest % of seniors. The disability rate in both countries has overcome 10% & increases every year. According to Eurostat, out of 70 million people with disabilities, the largest part report lack of access to recreation, incl. tourism. Adapting environment&services to all is part of sustainable development concept & important both from social, as well as economic perspective. It is a common challenge of the Est-Lat programme area, which requires a cross-border approach to provide jointly adapted accessible cross-border info, environment&services.
The Project objective is to expand&add value to the joint cross-border tourism product Mapeirons.eu, which embraces the chain of accessible nature tourism destinations in EE&LV. The approach is to add to Mapeirons.eu new trails, cultural heritage sites, other interest objects, catering&accommodation services in regions (Vidzeme, South Estonia) not covered so far & expand it to provide travellers, incl. disabled, with complete visiting experience through developing 30 safe, reliable, tested, accessible 1-3 day routes, incl. cross-border, overall in all eligible programme regions. Cross-border approach is needed to develop&ensure unified minimum access standard. The project originality lies in delivering a single, reliable, comprehensive EE-LV cross-border accessible tourism info source for all travellers’ groups - mapeirons.eu (in EST - www.looduseleligi.ee), containing accessible 1-3 day route options, branded with “Disability friendly” quality sign.
Read more Actual Achievements (EN): During period 1, as part of general project management:
Partners met for the first project meeting - kick-off on 26-27 October 2023 in Šlokenbeka (Tukums County), hold two online Zoom sessions on project progress and reporting (28.11.23., 26.01.24.) and a number of local working group meetings.
Some pf the partners also participated at Est-Lat programme Zoom on accessibility and social innovations in tourism (06.11.23.) and Programme Comunication seminar (01.12.23.) in Parnu, attended the seminar organised by Accessible Hiking Trails’ project (07.11.23.) and participated in the experience exchange visit to Spain (01.-05.11.23.) and the kick-off meeting (.07.-08.12.23.) organised by the Green Railway II project.
LP and PP2 (VPR) organised the first procurement on services of an accessibility expert. LP already signed a contract with NGO Apeirons, which has started providing accessibility expertise for the LP and Kurzeme sites for the whole project duration. PP2 were finishing the procurement process.
Together with PP5 (SEDMO), LP drafted the Project Communication Strategy and Marketing Plan. PP5 in cooperation with partners also created the project FB profile named: Development of Accessible Tourism Routes project, which is being administered by all partners.
All partners created project sub-section in their webpages and posted regular updates on project progress on FB (can be selected using tabs #accessroutes, #interreg, #estlat) and websites. LP project section is available:
In LV: https://www.kurzemesregions.lv/projekti/turisms/access-routes/);
In Eng: https://www.kurzemesregions.lv/en/projects/tourism/access-routes/.
As part of WP1, partners have started Activity 1.1. and 1.2.
Under Activity 1.1, in cooperation with municipalities tourism specialists PP2 prepared list of short nature trails to be inspected in Vidzeme. Internal meetings betweeen the EE partners to coordinate the trails and visiting sites to be inspected took place (03.11.2024 in Tartu, online meeting 04.01.2024).
Under Activity 1 2., in close cooperation and joint work between the LP, NGO Apeirons and PP3 (EPIK), best practice guidelines for tourism and cultural heritage object administrators and service providers had been developed, together with detailed check-lists for all project partners which will be used while carrying out on-site inspections of objects and services (for their inclusion on mapeirons.eu and the project routes). Material on the best practice guidelines will further be designed in LV, EE and ENG and uploaded on mapeirons.eu, as well as printed for distribution during inspection visits.
As part of WP2, partners started Activities 2.1. and 2.2.
Under 2.1.: Partners jointly developed the Agenda for the experience exchange visit of Latvians to Estonia (15-16 Febr. 2024), jointly with PP3 had started to organise the experience exchange visit to Sweden (4-8 March 2024) and jointly with PP2, PP3 and PP4 started to organise the experience exchange visit of Estonians to Latvia (18-19 April 2024). List of participants for the experience exchange visit of Latvians to Estonia (15-16 Febr. 2024) had been compiled too.
Under 2.2.: on 24 Jan. 2024 the LP hold an open local forum in Saldus (23 participants) to discuss about acessibility at cultural heritage sites and creative tactile solutions for project sites in Kurzeme. PP4 also started to work on the planning of its 1st forum tol take place on14.02.24.
During period 2, as part of general project management, KPR organized the 2nd project management meeting online through Zoom on 24 May 2024 with all project partners participating and organised 2 on-site project meetings during experience exchange visits to Estonia and Sweden to discuss project progress and agree on further activities. Project Leader also presented the best practice examples from the partners’ experience exchange visit to Sweden at the 14 March 2024 workshop in Ādaži organised by the Riga Planning Region as part of the Accessible Hiking Trails project.
All partners posted regular updates on project progress on FB project profile "Development of accessible tourism routes" and their own organisation profiles (can be selected using tabs #accessroutes, #interreg, #estlat) and websites.
As part of WP1, partners:
- continued Activities1.1. and 1 2.
Based on the developed best practice guidelines for tourism and cultural heritage object administrators and service providers, the KPR attracted a company and together with partners started designing the best practice accessibility guidelines to be further distributed among the stakeholders. The final version shall be produced in Period 3.
Partners organised their first accessibility inspection round-trips in cooperation with NGOs and local TICs, compiled a number of recommendations for the sites inspected to improve accessibility and started uploading accessible and partly accessible sites on mapeirons.eu.
- started Activity 1.3.
KPR and VPR worked out detailed technical specifications for Kurzeme and Vidzeme tactiles, as well as construction works in Kurzeme (Ventspils B;ušnieki beach) in close cooperation with local municipalities, NGO Apeirons and partners and based on those started their public procurement procedures.
As part of WP2, partners completed Activity 2.1. and continued 2.2.
Under 2.1.: experience exchange visit of Latvians took place in Estonia (15-16 Febr. 2024), experience exchange visit of project partners and 2 representatives from Kurzeme municipalities took place in Sweden (4-8 March 2024) and experience exchange visit of Estonians took place in Latvia (18-19 April 2024).
Under 2.2.: along with PP4 DCVC and PP2 started detailed discussions on the organisation of the hackathon in Rouge in October 2024 (on-site discussions during experience exchange visit to Estonia and Zoom meeting on 29 May 2024). VPR organised its open forum in Skangaļi manor and DCVC - 3 local forums in Voru County.
During period 3, as part of general project management, partners organized/participated at several project management meetings online through Zoom to coordinate the overall progress of the project, held an on-site project management meeting in Alūksne on 21-22 August 2024 and 2 online Zoom trainings on data input on mapeirons.eu for EE side. Project Leader also participated in the panel discussion on nature-friendly and accessible tourism as part of the Interreg Cooperation Day 2024 on 19 September n Mežaparks, Riga.
All partners posted regular updates on project progress on FB project profile "Development of accessible tourism routes" & their own accounts (can be selected using tabs #accessroutes, #interreg, #estlat) and website.
As part of WP1:
- Partners continued Activities 1.1. and 1.2 by finishing the Best practice accessibility guidelines in tourism and culture (published on mapeirons.eu in LV, EE, ENG and on partners own websites). Organised many accessibility inspections & uploaded on mapeirons.eu the sites which were acknowledged accessible or partly accessible after inspections.
- LP continued Activity 1.3 by contracting suppliers for Kurzeme tactiles & company for the construction of access. beach in Ventspils + held 1st site testing & bought a floating wheelchair. PP2 launched piblic procurement on tactiles.
- started Activity 1.5 by developing 7 accessible routes in Kurzeme region & publishing them on mapeirons.eu and starting to work on development of cross-border routes.
As part of WP2:
- continued Activity 2.2. on organisation of hackathon in Rouge in 10.-12.10.24 (selection of teams, preparing idea descriptions & idea presentations & hackathon intro presentation for Kurzeme participants (online Zoom meeting)).
As part of WP3:
- partners started discussions on developing the concept for the first marketing campaign expected in the last quarter 2024.
During period 4, as part of general project management, partners organized several project management meetings online through Zoom to coordinate the overall progress of the project, held an on-site project management meeting in Voru on 29-30 January 2025 and 1 additional online Zoom training on data cross-check in mapeirons.eu. LP also participated in the:
- Forum "Accessibility of Cultural Heritage - Myths and Reality" held on 5 November 2024 at the National Library of Latvia with presentation on the Accessibility of Cultural heritage in Kurzeme and presented the Best practice accessibility guidelines in tourism and culture developed by the Project;
- "Annual award for supporting people with disabilities" ceremony organised by NGO Apeirons, Ombudsman and the National Library of Latvia, held in Riga on 4 December 2024, where the KPR received the award in the category "Accessibility initiatives", i.a. as part of the "Access Routes" project for the construction of accessible beach in Venstpils, comprehensive accessibility inspections and 7 local access routes developed so far.
Partners posted regular updates on project progress on FB project profile "Development of accessible tourism routes" & partners' own profiles (can be selected using tabs #accessroutes, #interreg, #estlat), as well as partners' and mapeirons websites.
As part of WP1, partners:
- continued Activity 1.1. and 1.2 by organising few additional accessibility inspection round-trips in cooperation with accessibility experts and local municipalities & uploaded on mapeirons.eu the sites which were acknowledged accessible or partly accessible after inspection.
- continued Activity 1.3 by installing Kurzeme tactiles at 4 Project investment sites & finished the construction of access. beach in Ventspils; working on production of Vidzeme tactiles and planning of EE tactiles.
- started Activity 1.4 by developing concepts for nature and museum interpretation senses' kits.
- continued Activity 1.5 by developing additional accessible local routes.
As part of WP2:
- continued Activity 2.2. by participating in the international hackathon in Rouge on 10.-12.10.24 (the Project particiated with 3 teams, i.a. 1 team from Kurzeme, 1 from Vidzeme and 1 international, involving project partners) and local forum in Voru on 29.01.25.
As part of WP3:
- hold the 1st marketing campaign lead by PP5 over 13-30 December 2024.
During period 5, as part of general project management, partners organized several project management meetings online through Zoom to coordinate the overall progress of the project and posted regular updates on project progress on FB project profile "Development of accessible tourism routes" & partners profile (can be selected using tabs #accessroutes, #interreg, #estlat), as well as partners and mapeirons websites.
As part of WP1, partners continued:
- Activity 1.1 and 1.2 by organising additional accessibility inspections and ammending info on mapeirons.eu.
- Activity 1.3 by LP contracting a service provider for Grobiņa tactile solution, as well as installation of signs in Usma, Saldus, Ventspils and a binocular in Usma; and recorded 3 audios (each in LV, ENG) for Ciecere path tactile painting reproductions in Saldus, incl. braille text for QR codes, PP2 continuing work on Vidzeme tactiles and PP3 and PP4 working on procurement specifications for EE tactiles.
- Activity 1.4 by LP launching public procurement and signing contracts for the production of the Travelling museum interpretation senses' kits in coordination with PP2 and by PP3 and PP4 developing the nature interpretation kit technical specifications.
- Activity 1.5. by working on the development of EE-LV cross-border routes and local EE routes.
As part of WP2:
- carried out organizational tasks to hold international forum in Voru County (Rouge), Activity 2.1 (held in Period 6).
As part of WP3:
- carried out organizational tasks to hold the first Accessibility Days' event in Tartu, Activity 3.3 (held in Period 6).
- started Activity 3.2. by holding first accessibility inspections in Riga & Pieriga and West-Estonia and uploading info on mapeirons.
During period 6, as part of general project management, LP organized several project management meetings online through Zoom to coordinate the overall progress of the project and posted regular updates on project progress on FB project profile "Development of accessible tourism routes" & KPR profile (can be selected using tabs #accessroutes, #interreg, #estlat), as well as KPR and mapeirons websites.
In addition:
- The Access Routes project was presented at the European Interregional MONA project webinar on accessibility in sustainable tourism on 4 June 2025;
- PL participated in the DG REGIO organised Breakfast Debate on 18.09.25. to present the project activities.
As part of WP1, partners continued:
- Activity 1.1. and 1.2 by organising additional accessibility inspections and ammended info on mapeirons.eu.
- Activity 1.3. by working on the production of tactiles for Vidzeme, South-Estonia and Voru county sites. Tactiles in Kurzeme (I.1.1) are finalized now by installing Grobiņa tactile solution, as well as signs in Usma, Saldus, Ventspils, a binocular in Usma.
- Activity 1.4 by working on the production of the interpretation senses' kits (nature and the Travelling museum);
- Activity 1.5 by working on the development of EE-LV cross-border routes together with partners and improving mapeirons.eu for visually impaired.
As part of WP2, partners held the international forum in Voru County (Rouge), Activity 2.2.
As part of WP3, partners:
- held the first Accessibility Days' event in Tartu, Activity 3.3.
- continued Activity 3.2. with accessibility inspections in West-Estonia;
- completed Activity 3.1 by designing route logo, banner and sticker;
- continued Activity 3.5. by selecting the Marketing agency and drafting the final plan for the campaign to be carried out in period 7.
In addition, the Access Routes project has been selected and included in the newly approved BSR Platform project #003 RegenT (https://interreg-baltic.eu/project/regent/).
Progress towards the achievement of project objectives:
WP1 = site inspections have almost been done, with some still remaining whilst finalizing the routes; improvement of natural & cultural heritage sites is under process, ongoing in all partner regions (incl. 4 out of 5 finalized in Kurzeme); publishing of accessible sites and created routes on www.mapeirons.eu - ongoing.
WP2 = building up the knowledge within local communities, tourism businesses, municipalities and project partners has been achieved to a large part with one local forum in Tartu and Final Conference remaining.
WP3 = the transfer of the accessible routes solution to all other eligible programme regions (Riga, Pierīga & West-Estonia) and reach the public through a marketing campaign have started, but will be more actively worked on in the next periods.
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