About project
Nature and Digital-Based Education on Ecotourism
Project number NPAD-2022/10144
Project aim is dual – firstly, to encourage adults to increase their knowledge of nature and to travel responsibly, through education based on Ecotourism. Secondly to help adults working in tourism to gain more knowledge in ecotourism, to acquire more skills on how to create their own ecotours on site and in virtual environment, as ecotourism products, which they will be able to deliver to potential visitors, and to have an additional source of income for those who live in rural and peripheral areas.
The perception of nature and sustainable behaviour in natural environment in particular in vulnerable landscapes, requires having special and evidence-based knowledge on their biodiversity (flora and fauna), geology, geomorphology, hydrology, lifestyle in naturally vulnerable areas. Adults‘ informal education methods will be used to help people working in tourism sector, and to provide them with the necessary expertise.
Background
Ecotourism has become the fastest growing sector of the tourism industry - growing around 3 times faster than common tourism industry as a whole. Ecotourism is nature-based, environmentally educated, sustainably managed and related to responsible travelling. More and more visitors are looking for areas with little impact of human activity for recreation. A promotion of ecotourism development requires the application of practical knowledge. There is a growing shortage of ecotour guides and local nature guides, who can subtly reveal the mysteries of nature, encourage interest in it and contribute to its conservation.
Ecotourism directly benefits to local small-scaled economic development. Thus, it implicates local communities to create unique products of ecotourism based on principles of respect to nature and local culture. There are many ways to approach ecotourism, but most important is tourism education, which is based on protection of natural areas, generation of economic value added for locals, assurance in planning of unique ecotours for small groups. Successful ecotourism begins with travelers awareness of the impact they are making on the places they visit.
Nordic/Baltic added value
Eco/Green approaches in tourism and sustainable ways of exploring and protecting nature, varies greatly between Nordic and Baltic countries. Therefore, sharing of eco-knowledge would benefit all countries. A concept of ecotourism based on studies of natural environment, helps to understand nature, its values and processes that differ among Baltic and Nordic countries. Primarily, this affected by different geological and geomorphological formations of reliefs and landscapes, secondly - implicated creation of biodiversity in Baltic and Nordic nature, and thirdly, different climate conditions created distinct cultural landscapes and induced human approaches in perception of nature environment. Elaboration of common approach and evidence based methodology in ecotourism development in forms of jointly created digital ecotourism products (digital handbook, mapstories, guidelinesm ecotours), will imply better mutual understanding and cultural cohesion of nature and tourists‘ behaviour between Baltic and Nordic countries.
Activities
The project is divided into three main stages:
Stage 1: Research of ecotourism situation in partner countries. From the perspective of tourists and tourism specialists, demand and offers available.
Stage 2: Creation of digital tools: handbook, storymaps, guidelines for tourism specialists, for represenation and dissemination of unique thematic concepts of ectours based on sharing of eco-knowledge in perception of Baltic and Nordic nature and its values with application of informal adults‘ education methods.
Stage: 3 Trainings of adult learners in partner countries, using created materials and applying informal education methods.