Voices of Heritage in English

Sustainable future for / by tourism guides

Implementation Period: October 1, 2024 – December 31, 2026

Budget: The total project budget is €120,000, of which 95% is covered by public funding.

The project aims to discover innovative ways of working as a tour guide by learning new skills and networking regionally, nationally, and internationally. In addition to traditional guiding, guides have the potential to offer a variety of activities, act as voices of heritage, and promote sustainable development. In line with the Luotsi strategy, the project will enhance rural tourism services, develop guiding activities, improve service quality and internationalization, and test virtual tours, themed travel, and broader product packages. Guide associations will collaborate with domestic and international guides as well as local residents. Through cooperation, the project will identify villages’ tourism strengths, utilize young residents’ perspectives, and integrate cultural heritage into tourism. The project will organize study trips, training sessions and workshops, and conceptualize and test new services.

There are active guide associations in the area that are increasing the number of guides and seeking new ideas, younger guides, internationalization, and peer learning from other associations in Finland and Europe. There are also declining guide associations that need revitalization to attract new guides and activate their operations.

Tourism development has been recognized as a current need in the region’s municipalities. Promoting sustainable tourism and increasing responsibile tourism expertise are part of the project’s goals. The project will be implemented in collaboration with all local guide associations and rural residents.

Partners:

Leader Satasilta

Kilkenny Leader Partnership, Ireland

International cooperation:

Nelja Valla Kogu, Estonia

Lääne-Harju Koostöökogu, Estonia

Kodukant Läänemaa, Estonia

Region an der Romantichen strasse / Gemeinsam Beyern, Germany