Project „Parks&Benefits” is implemented within Interreg IV B
Baltic Sea Region Programme and is partly financed by ERDF. Necessary amount of partner co-financing for Ķemeri National Park Administration (15%) is granted by the State of Latvia.
Total budget: 2,7 million EUR
KNP partner budget: 137 000 EUR
Duration of the project: 3 years (January 2009 – January 2012)
18 governmental and non-governmental organisations from Denmark, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Norway and Germany.
Lead partner - Ministry for Agriculture, Environment and Consumer Protection in Mecklenburg - Vorpommern, Germany.
Latvia is represented by Nature Protection Agency Ķemeri National Park Administration together with Latvian Country Tourism Association
„Lauku ceļotājs”.
• Adoption of European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas (Charter process involving agreement to Charter principles, creation of permanent forum of stakeholders, working out tourism strategy for 5 years, etc.);
• Purchase of visitor counting systems and setting them up in Ķemeri NP;
• Participating in researches and preparation of guidelines carried out by Project partners on visitor management, socio-economic benefit monitor, mobility standards, etc.;
• Participating in creation of new nature tourism products in Ķemeri NP.
In July, Ķemeri National Park became the first protected area in Latvia to register as official candidate for European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas with the EUROPARC Federation. Now there is plenty of effort ahead, including creation of permanent forum of stakeholders, working out sustainable tourism development strategy and action plan. Nevertheless, there is determined optimism to have everything successfully completed by December 2010 to carry on with the next step – handing in official application for the Charter.
Charter process is one of the main activities of the „Parks&benefits” project.
