A conference was held the 27-28th of April in Vilnius in cooperation between the County Administration of Gotland, Sweden and the Vilnius Old Town Renewal Agency, introducing the concept Grand Tour of the Baltic Sea. The Grand Tour of Baltic Sea Region could be described as a way to offer people and acting partners, a diversity of reasons to travel and visit World Heritage sites in the Baltic Sea Region. It is also a way to create networks and cross border exchange between World Heritage Sites.
The project network of today consists of eight World Heritage sites that has been in contacts between the years of 2013-2016. At the conference there were presentations from experts on tourism sectors, cultural heritage research and sustainable tourism as well as input from UNESCO and National Geographic, to inspire and influence key person of the involve sites. They are all important to make Grand Tour of the Baltic Sea come true as an innovative and sustainable project during 2017.
Presentations:
Developing sustainable tourism in the Baltic Sea Region, UNESCO consultant Cecilie Smith Christensen, former NWHF. Dropbox link:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/huof3xqvwit5ml7/Vilnius%2027%20April%202016.pptx?dl=0
Introductions Grand Tour of Baltic Sea GTBSR concept (Lennart Edlund/Louise Hoffman Borgö)
International Tourism and Travel behaviour, Björn Arvidsson, Razormind, Sweden Tourism Behavior_Razormind
Member cities, projects and opportunities for collaboration, Matthias Ripp, Head of the North West European Regional Secretariat of OWHC, Germany OWHC_Regensburg_Mathias
National Geographic- possible co-operation, Frank Biasi, Director of Digital Development and Geo tourism from Colorado, USA
“The vision of the project Grand Tour of the Baltic Sea Region is to contribute to the foundation of a more sustainable tourism in the World Heritage Sites of the Baltic Sea Region, which profoundly stimulates the local societies economically, social and environmentally” exclaims Mrs. Louise Hoffman Borgö, coordinator of the project from the County Administration on Gotland, Sweden
The Grand Tour concept gives the traveler a deeper understanding of the sites they have visited and through that attracts creative ideas in the local society which can become innovations. An innovative society is the foundation of local growth and sustainable development in a post industrial economy.
“I have no doubt Grand Tour is a vital World Hertiage initiative and live history, that makes us all closer and stronger neighbours, and promotes our treasures to the rest of Europe and globe “says Mr. Gediminas Rutkaukas, director at the Vilnius Old Town Reewval Agency.
This is the starting point of short term project during 2016 “Preparatory activities for Grand Tour of the Baltic Sea Region,” that will make necessary preparations for realizing the lager project. The network of World Heritage sites today consists of eight participants; WHS Historic Center of Riga in Latvia, WHS Castle of the Teutonic Order of Malbork in Poland, WHS Old Rauma and WHS Sammallahdenmäki in Finland, WHS Vega Archipelago in Norway, WHS Curonian Spit in Russia and Lithuania, WHS Hanseatic Town of Visby in Sweden, and WHS Vilnius Historic Center.
Swedish Embassy in Vilnius – partner of the Conference;
Main sponsor – UAB „BALTISCHESHAUS