Local/Regional Economic Development in South ... - Value Chains

1 6 jective of the workshops is to coordinate and lay down the
key working areas, responsibilities, and clear parameters
for the work, with schedules. To date, work has been done
in the following key areas:
Analysis of the existing tourism potential, demand (chiefly
from the region), and supply along the Danube, as well as
analysis of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and
threats (SWOT) and, derived from these, identification of
the main work areas:
• Continuation of the Danube Cycling Path, wellknown
in Germany, Austria, and Hungary, from Budapest
to the Danube Delta:
Identification and GPS recording of the route, production
of a special cycling map for the Danube Cycling
Path in conjunction with Huber Kartographie
in Munich (PPP), stipulation of standards (signposting,
route quality, and tourist services)
• Support for marketing, including advertising activities
for tourism along the Danube in South-Eastern
Europe:
Participation in the Internationale Tourismusbörse
(ITB) exhibition 2004, 2005 and 2006 in Berlin, Pro-
Wein Düsseldorf 2006, the RDA Bus Tourism Fair
Cologne 2006, EUROBIKE Friedrichshafen 2006,
local fairs, preparation of marketing brochures,
(www.donau-info.org, www.danube-info.org)
• Preparation of a project proposal for INTERREG
IIIB CARDS: “Strengthening the Danube Region
through Sustainable Tourism focusing on the Danube
Cycle Track” (http://europa.eu.int/scadplus)
Support for various tourism development measures for
the region in the different countries:
• Advisory services for preparation of a Danube tourism
strategy in Bulgaria
• Advisory services for the creation of regional tourism
associations
• Promoting cooperation between all actors in the municipalities
and regions
• Capacity building, e. g. PACA and CEFE training,
seminars on marketing, product development, association
management
• Evaluation of a model ecological campground
The advisory services and measures of the project incorporate
all levels (macro, meso, and micro levels). The complex
task of developing harmonized, marketable tourist
products demands cooperation from private suppliers, the
municipalities, regions, and across national borders.
Impact of the project
Socio-economic results
Development of the tourism sector will primarily
strengthen the economic capacity of the regions along the
Danube. This refers above all to the creation of income
and jobs. The tourism sector can make an important contribution
to strengthening economic activities in the municipalities.
Many small and medium-sized tourism companies of
various sizes are arising in the areas of accommodations,
gastronomy, leisure and sports. The project’s measures are
improving the economic viability of the firms. The firms
are thus better able to compete in the market, increase
their profitability, and thus safeguard or create jobs and
income. Business start-ups make their investments with
better preparation and in the framework of a coordinated
product policy, thus running less of a risk of making bad
investments. Local handicraft and local manufacturing
(e. g. the food sector and wood processing) benefit from
increasing demand from the tourism sector and tourists.
The incorporated local advisory and training institutions
are also expected to increase their income.
A big advantage of the tourism sector is the fact that firms
and sources of income that require very little investment
also arise, often as a second job that can improve the income
situation. It is also possible and sensible to gradually
build up a business, thus reducing dependence on credit.
Socio-cultural results
The creation of efficient, institutionally anchored regional
management, cooperation between actors to develop the
region as a marketable tourism product, and the resulting
interactions with local authorities make essential contributions
to an improved partnership between the state,
organizations, and civil society. The need for cooperation
in the development and marketing of tourism products
facilitates communication and cooperation between the
numerous stakeholders: tourism businesses, government
and non-governmental organizations at the municipal, regional,
and national levels.
An important part of the project work is the promotion
of interest representation (associations) and clarification
of the roles of the state, civil society, and the private sector.
The project activities strengthen market-oriented initiatives
and responsibility by independent service providers
and government administration. Joint preparation of
tourism products promotes identification with the region,
its culture, and the need to preserve the environment as
the basis for the development of tourism.
Women play a relatively important role in the tourism sector
throughout the world. Likewise in the project region,
women are more active in the tourism sector than in other
sectors; many businesses are run by women.
Environmental results
The project is raising awareness of the need to preserve the
environment. Almost every tourism product in the region