Velo tourism route 'In the footprints of Barons and Peterson'

The idea for project arose because environmentally friendly tourism in Latvia&Estonia is not sufficiently developed. Also natural&cultural landscape in Estonia&Latvia has not been sufficiently studied. Many such places in Latvia&Estonia, also the border region have been left without care.There is a lack of knowledge in Estonia&Latvia about each other's culture, history&nature.The project idea is to establish a new, green tourism route Tartu-Dundaga (which famous personlaiy in the Latvian culture - Barons used to walk) and a velo trip through the route. Also Estonian poet Peterson used to walk similar route. The main objectives is to establish cooperation between Latvia&Estonia in the fields of environment, culture&sports, and to contribute to development of environmentally friendly toursim in Latvia&Estonia, their border regions, and Via Hanseatica development zone.Objective is also address the issue of a need for joint action in the field of envirnmental, culture, sports&tourism. The partner was chosen taking into consideration several aspects: 1) it has sound experience in project management related to tourism, tourism development&promotion; 2) cooperation with the LP in the past 3) location of the partner (Tartu) - the route will start in Tartu too; 4) Mr Barons and Mr Peterson used to study in Tartu, etc. The main acitivities of the project will be related to planning&development of the tourim route, identifying objects/places/monuments of cultural, historical&nature relevance and their introduction to the route, promotion of the route, organisation of a velo trip through the route, physical marking of the route. During the velo trip variuos green activities will be organised (in the border Valga/Valka region particularly. The main target groups will be young people, tourists travelling with bikes,sportsmen&all enthusiasts particulalry from the border regions. The main outputs will be a new, marked velo tourism route&a velo trip through the route. As regards long term impact the project will generate increased popularity of the regions in Estonia and Latvia and particlarly those in the border region. It will promote tourism in Latvia and Estonia. It will also contribute to strengthening cooperation between municipalities on both sides of the border. The poject' will generte a positive impact on social, environmental and economic cohesion of the regions in Latvia and Estonia. Via the green activities it will contribute to increase environmental awareness of the people in both sides of the border. Economic cohesion and increased environmental consciousness in Latvia and Estonia, and particulalry in the border region will contribute to achieving sustainable development iin Europe and in the world.