Workation as a cross-border tourism destination

Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-A Lithuania-Poland

Date of latest update: 2026-01-26

Description

Description (EN):

The program area has a number of well-developed resorts, spas, individual recreation houses and elements of cultural heritage and culinary traditions that could attract more tourists. An EC study of functional areas showed that the area is relatively unknown to tourism, there is little information about them, a lack of cooperation between public institutions, and a lack of management and marketing skills in tourism. Until the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of tourists in the program area grew steadily. From 2012 to 2019, the number increased by 66.7%, but periodically declined after 2019. The tourism industry was severely affected by the pandemic and requires public interventions to restore its growth. The project is an attempt to address seasonality in the tourism industry and create opportunities to develop cultural and tourism services that could be provided year-round. Project goal: to strengthen the role of culture and sustainable tourism in economic development, social inclusion and social innovation. The project aims to provide greater visibility to the cross-border area as a tourist destination, reduce seasonality in the tourism industry, facilitate the use of natural resources and assets for the development of tourism services, especially those related to sustainable tourism, linking tourism needs with social and educational needs. The project and its activities aim to promote joint tourism products, which is the creation of the WORKATION idea, which will increase the visibility of the region, reduce the seasonality of the tourism industry and positively influence social innovation. Organizing work-related events can attract new tourists to the region. Workation visitors often spend more time in a destination and spend more money on accommodation, food, entertainment and services. Introducing the workation concept can help regions diversify their economies. Some places that previously relied mainly on seasonal tourism may gain a new group of customers who are also willing to visit outside the tourist season. Workation can encourage the promotion of local culture, traditions and attractions. By organizing side events, such as workshops, lectures or tours of the area, the region can showcase its unique features and attract the attention of remote workers. The arrival of people on workation can bring in additional income for local businesses, such as restaurants, hotels, cafes, souvenir stores, etc. Increased demand for services can lead to job growth and development of the local economy. To meet the needs of those working remotely, regions can invest in developing infrastructure such as high-speed internet, modern coworking offices and travel amenities, which can bring long-term benefits to the community as a whole. For regions that are struggling with an exodus of local talent, introducing the concept of remote work can help retain talent. Those who can work remotely may choose to stay in an area that offers attractive living and working conditions. The project's activities will aim to build awareness and raise awareness of remote work, its benefits and risks, a sustainable way to combine tourism and work year-round. Thanks to cross-border and interregional cooperation, workation participants have access to a variety of locations throughout the program area. They can choose from different regions, cultures, landscapes and attractions to meet a wide range of preferences and needs. Interregional cooperation can contribute to the development of coworking office infrastructure, high-speed Internet access and other amenities necessary for remote work. By sharing experiences and making joint investments, regions can create attractive conditions for people working remotely. Interregional cooperation can also help promote different locations and their unique characteristics. Through joint marketing activities, promoting tourist and business attractions and organizing work-related events, regions can attract the attention of remote workers and investors. Cross-border cooperation enables the exchange of experiences and best practices in remote work and work organization. Regions can learn from each other, identify challenges and find common solutions. Through cross-border cooperation, local entrepreneurs and service providers can expand into new markets and gain access to new customers. Cross-border cooperation can also foster business partnerships and exchange of know-how and resources. Interregional cooperation can help build social and cultural ties and promote mutual understanding and cooperation. By organizing cultural, social and educational events, regions can create an atmosphere of openness and tolerance. Cross-border and interregional cooperation is therefore a key element in the success of workation, allowing participants access to different locations, infrastructure and development opportunities, and promoting mutual understanding, cooperation and social and economic development.

Expected Achievements (EN):

Project goal: to strengthen the role of culture and sustainable tourism in economic development, social inclusion and social innovation. The project aims to provide greater visibility to the cross-border area as a tourist destination, reduce seasonality in the tourism industry, facilitate the use of natural resources and assets for the development of tourism services, especially those related to sustainable tourism, linking tourism needs with social and educational needs.

Project outputs: Organizations cooperating across borders(EN)
Jointly developed solutions(EN)

Thematic information

Innovation capacity and awareness-raising Tourism Education and training

Priority: (VI-A_Lt-Pl_2) Promoting physical, emotional and cultural wellbeing

Priority specific objective: RSO4.6. Enhancing the role of culture and sustainable tourism in economic development, social inclusion and social innovation

Priority policy objective (Interreg specific objective): PO4 A more social and inclusive Europe implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights

Type of intervention: 165 Protection, development and promotion of public tourism assets and tourism services

Partners (2)

Lead Partner: Gmina Miasto Ełk

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 8481825438

Department: Strategy and Development Department

Address: Marszałka Józefa Piłsudskiego, 19-300 Ełk, Poland

Department address: Marszałka Józefa Piłsudskiego, 19-300 Ełk, Poland

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: http://www.elk.pl

Total budget: EUR 89 175.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 71 340.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 17 835.00

Birštono turizmo informacijos centras

Name: Birštono turizmo informacijos centras

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 300557123

Address: B. Sruogos, LT-59209 Birštonas, Lithuania

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Infrastructure and (public) service provider

Website: http://www.visitbirstonas.lt

Total budget: EUR 70 417.50

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 56 334.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 14 083.50

Contractors:

Name: UAB „Lietuvos meistrai“
VAT registration or tax identification number: LT100009448719
Name: Strateginiai verslo sprendima
VAT registration or tax identification number: NO VAT payer
Name: UAB Rinkodara
VAT registration or tax identification number: LT100008183510
Name: UAB Audiotonas
VAT registration or tax identification number: LT106037113
Name: UAB PB EKSPRESAS
VAT registration or tax identification number: LT257622917
Name: UAB Gideas
VAT registration or tax identification number: LT100007595312
Name: NP grupė
VAT registration or tax identification number: LT100011465417
Name: UAB Gyvenimas
VAT registration or tax identification number: LT706482610
Name: MB Begrow
VAT registration or tax identification number: NO VAT payer
Name: UABKomunikacija irkonsultantai
VAT registration or tax identification number: LT241300811
Name: VšĮ Krašto vitrina
VAT registration or tax identification number: LT100003192815
Name: MB „Rojaus projektai“
VAT registration or tax identification number: LT100012289619
Name: UAB „Baltic holidays“
VAT registration or tax identification number: LT599285410
Name: UAB ,,Gyvenimas"
VAT registration or tax identification number: LT706482610
Name: Apskaitosirmokesčiųkonsultacij
VAT registration or tax identification number: LT256544515
Name: UAB AKA Baltic
VAT registration or tax identification number: LT100004022510
Name: Viltaras Kriščiūnas
VAT registration or tax identification number: NO VAT payer
Name: Vilija Malinauskaitė
VAT registration or tax identification number: NO VAT payer
Name: UAB Eglės sanatorija
VAT registration or tax identification number: LT100007663119

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

Birštonas Tourism Information Center

Workation as a cross-border tourism destination

Partners and Projects info

Elk City Municipality

Workation as a cross-border tourism destination

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Workation as a cross-border tourism destination

Project acronym: WORKATION

Project ID: LTPL00290

Project start date: 2024-12-01

Project end date: 2025-11-30

Project status: closed

Relevant linked projects:

ACCELERO (EN) | ACCELERO's best practices consisted of learning from the best. The project consisted of supporting FDIs located in emerging and moderately innovative EU countries or regions to expand and adapt their offerings to meet the current needs of stakeholders and the globally changing market, including the labor market and sustainable economic development.
This has synergies with the planned new Interreg project, as sharing experiences with others and continuous improvement is important for strengthening cross-border cities. (EN)

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 159 592.50

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 127 674.00

Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 80.00%

Co-financing sources:

ERDF: Amount, EUR 127 674.00. Co-financing rate, 80.00%.

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

(bullets are inserted automatically and may be incorrectly placed)

Deliverables:

Workshops for polish and lithuanian public administration
Online meeting workshop for polish and lithuanian project teams
Guide book for accommodation sector
Conference closing the project
Online workshop for polish and lithuanian project teams
Promotion strategy of workation brands (1 PL and 1 LT)
Promotion campaign of workation - Promotional video
Promotion campaign of workation - Promotional catalogues
Development of 2 IT tools for promotion of Workation
Equipment for promotion of “Workation” solution

Contribution to wider strategies and policies:

EUStrategyBalticSeaRegion Workation has a positive impact on the implementation of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region by promoting mobility, sustainable development, cross-border cooperation, entrepreneurship, innovation, environmental protection, and strengthening social and cultural ties in the Baltic Sea Region.
Other Specific objective 2.2 Interreg V-A Lithuania-Poland: Strengthen the role of culture and sustainable tourism in economic development, social inclusion and social innovation
Other Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship 2030 Socio-economic development strategy; 5.4 Strategic goal: Intelligent productivity and 5.3 Strategic goal: Competence of the future.
Other Development Strategy of Elk Subregional Centre until 2025; Strategic objective 1. Increasing competitiveness of Elk and its functional area Priority 1: Innovative economy and competitive enterprise substation.
Other Birštonas Municipality Strategic Development Plan 2030 2.2. Objective To strengthen the image and traditions of the resort and strengthen the local identity, 2.2.4. Objective To develop a distinctive image of Birštonas resort, 2,2,4,2 activity Development and implementation of effective marketing measures to highlight the uniqueness of Birštonas resort.

Programme Common Output Indicator:

RCO 116 - Jointly developed solutions, Measurement unit:
RCO 087 - Organisations cooperating across borders, Measurement unit:

Programme Common Result Indicator:

RCR 084 - Organisations cooperating across borders after project completion, Measurement unit:
RCR 104 - Solutions taken up or up-scaled by organisations, Measurement unit:

Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSBSR

EUSBSR Priority (Policy) area / Horizontal action:

EUSBSR Degree of compliance:

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-A Lithuania-Poland

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2026-01-26

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

100 / 100 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

250 / 250 (100%)

Notes on the data

Languages

Contact Form

Workation as a cross-border tourism destination

Description

Thematic information

Partners (2)

Partners map

Summary

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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