Project title: Improve attractiveness of Lithuania-Poland border region through cross-border cooperation and sustainable use of Balts cultural heritage by creating international culture route "Balts Road"
Project acronym: "Balts' Road LT-PL"
Project number: LTPL00327
Project partners: Lead partner – Šiauliai Tourism Information Center (Lithuania). Partners: Vilkaviškis Tourism and Business Information Center (Lithuania) Association Goldap Community Foundation (Poland)
Project implementation period: December 1, 2024 – November 31, 2025 (12 months).
Project budget: €159,372.00, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund €127,497.60
Project funding sources: project partners' funds and the European Regional Development Fund.
The project is implemented under Priority II of Interreg VI-A Lithuania–Poland Programme – Promoting Physical, Emotional, and Cultural Well-Being. Specific objective 2.2 – Strengthening the role of culture and sustainable tourism in economic development, social inclusion, and social innovation.
The project combines Balts heritage sites in the border regions of Lithuania and Poland into a single travel destination. This ambitious initiative aims to unite Balts heritage sites throughout Lithuania and the border regions of Poland, turning them into a unique and attractive travel destination.
The project aims to contribute to increasing the number of visitors to the Program area by creating Baltic-themed travel routes and strengthening the skills of local tourism professionals and guides so that they can present sites in an attractive way and tell the story of Baltic heritage. This is done through training, seminars, and informational trips so that tourism specialists and guides can not only learn the theory, but also see the sites and interact with local people who work with Baltic heritage (such as local artisans who produce Baltic crafts). The project pays great attention to publicizing the results of the project. This included the publication of promotional articles in the press and social media, the screening of promotional videos on national television, and the addition of new sites and travel routes to the website www.baltukelias.lt.
The main objective of the project is to promote the sustainable preservation, development, and widespread appreciation of the natural and cultural heritage sites, services, and products of these regions. By creating a harmonious travel experience, the Baltic Way seeks to raise the profile of these areas, making them more attractive, visible, and appealing to visitors.
The main results of the project – the most significant results of the project – are new travel routes and previously unseen objects on the map of the Baltic Way, as well as a paper travel map.
The project partners believe that the project will be beneficial to local communities, tourism companies, and visitors, and that the creation of a cultural tourism route will contribute to increasing the diversity of cultural and natural heritage sites, become well-known and popular among visitors interested in active and engaging recreation and wishing to use tourism-related services and products.