The aim of the project is to create suitable conditions for increasing the accessibility of the mountain regions of the Alps and the Carpathians through sustainable transport and the promotion of environmentally friendly tourism.
ABOUT THE PROJECT:
The most interesting localities with the highest number of visitors are Zádielská tiesňava and Jasovská jaskyňa. In addition to these popular natural beauties, there are a number of lesser-known attractions in the region that are waiting to be discovered and that may interest the visitor. It is mainly the prepared network of cycling routes in the cross-border zone Veľký Milič in Slanské vrchy within the connection of castles Fuzér (HU) and Slanec (SK), as well as activities in rural tourism in the form of organized events in in Jablonica nad Turňou, Hrušov and Turňa nad Bodvou. The most common recreational physical activities are focused on hiking (45 routes), cycling, rock climbing (Zádielská tiesňava) and fishing (4 ponds).
Funded by:
Funded under the Operational Program European Territorial Cooperation Program 2007-13, South East Europe
Project description:
Sustainable tourism is a major challenge for today’s rural and urban environment – especially in the mountain regions of the Alps and the Carpathians. The lack and backwardness of sustainable transport facilities in connection with the increasing use of cars is causing a significant negative environmental impact. This fact contributed to the preparation of a project aimed at improving environmentally friendly accessibility to and within the partner regions.
Transnational exchange plays a key role in the successful implementation of the project and the development of a sustainable tourism infrastructure, especially in the Carpathians. The transfer of experience and knowledge gained in the Alps to the region of South-Eastern Europe is important for the project. Another important factor will be the creation of attractive offers in order to increase sustainable mobility, rail and multimodal connections in tourism with a long-term perspective. Dialogue at various levels with the secretariats of the Alpine and Carpathian Conventions in order to make recommendations for the establishment of a transport protocol to the Carpathian Convention will ensure the political and institutional sustainability of the project and the general dissemination of project results.
The main goal of the project is environmentally friendly tourism, improving accessibility and connectivity of the sensitive regions of the Alps and the Carpathians, benefiting not only local people but also tourists and all potential users by visualizing existing problems, raising awareness, developing common knowledge and creating a monitoring base.
Specific aims:
- Knowledge goal
Knowledge, awareness and capacity base for transport problems and solutions with alternative modes of transport introduced in mountain regions at different levels and for potential users.
Infrastructure / connection target - Possibilities of increasing alternative modes of transport in tourism in sensitive mountain regions, illustrated by examples in pilot regions; efficient, attractive and competitive small railways and intermodal transport for the development of tourism in the Alpine and Carpathian region, which have similar problems but different backgrounds. Another benefit for everyday public mobility and, in some areas, for environmentally sustainable freight transport.
- Objective of transnational mountain regional development
Reinforced peripheral mountain regions through innovative, competitive tourism offers and increased tourism revenue, new accessibility options and subsequent investment. - Environmental objective
Reduction of greenhouse gases, pollutants and segments and thus sustainable and improved quality of the environment. - Multilevel policy goal
Initiated / strengthened policy-making dialogue at transnational and European level, policy-making for the Carpathians, enhanced strategic cooperation between two transnational different geographical areas and the Alpine and Carpathian Conventions
Partners:
The partnership is geographically balanced, the partners come from the Alpine and Carpathian regions: Head of PP: U-AT – Environment Agency Austria, ATERDF PP 1: BMVIT – Federal Ministry of Transport, Innovaton and Technology, ATERDF PP 2: Gesäuse – National Park Gesäuse, ATERDF PP 3: Mostviertel – Mostviertel-Tourism Ltd., ATERDF PP 5: UNICAM – University of Camerino, ITERDF PP 6: EURAC reseach – European Acadamy Bozen / Bolzano, ITERDF PP 7: CJIT Maramures – County Center for Tourism Informton, ROERDF PP 8: ARR-KE – Agency for the Support of Regional Development Kosice, SKERDF PP 9: Miskolc Holding, Plc., HUN20% ERDF PP 1: RARR-PL – Rzeszow Regional Development Agency, PL10% PP 1: TIMOK -Timok Club, RS10% PP 2: CFUA – Carpathian Foundation Ukraine, UA
