Perceptions of natural Perceptions of natural aspects aspects

of tourism development of tourism development in Curonian Spitin Curonian Spit

CURONIAN LAGOONCURONIAN LAGOON

• is located on the southeastern rim of is located on the southeastern rim of the Baltic Sea. the Baltic Sea.

• It is the largest Baltic Sea lagoon It is the largest Baltic Sea lagoon (surface area 1,584 sq. km). (surface area 1,584 sq. km).

• The Nemunas river provides the main The Nemunas river provides the main water inflow into the Curonian lagoon, water inflow into the Curonian lagoon, which discharges to the Baltic Sea. which discharges to the Baltic Sea.

• July and August are the warmest July and August are the warmest months of the year with the main daily months of the year with the main daily air temperature reaching +17ºC.air temperature reaching +17ºC.

• Politically, the Curonian lagoon region is Politically, the Curonian lagoon region is divided in two parts: The northern one divided in two parts: The northern one belongs to Lithuania and the southern belongs to Lithuania and the southern part to Kaliningrad Oblast, which is the part to Kaliningrad Oblast, which is the exclusive territory of Russian Federation.exclusive territory of Russian Federation.

• Geographically, the Curonian lagoon and Geographically, the Curonian lagoon and the adjacent region form a huge natural the adjacent region form a huge natural entity. The southeastern Baltic coastal entity. The southeastern Baltic coastal accumulative plain includes three major accumulative plain includes three major parts: The Nemunas delta, the Curonian parts: The Nemunas delta, the Curonian spit and the Sambian peninsula. The spit and the Sambian peninsula. The total area of this region is app. 4.000 sq. total area of this region is app. 4.000 sq. km. km.

• The Curonian spit is famous for its 31 km long The Curonian spit is famous for its 31 km long coastal ridge of 40-60 m high drifting barchans. In coastal ridge of 40-60 m high drifting barchans. In 2000 the entire Curonian spit has been included 2000 the entire Curonian spit has been included into the UNESCO World Heritage List as a cultural into the UNESCO World Heritage List as a cultural

landscape of outstanding value.landscape of outstanding value.

• It is protected within the national parks It is protected within the national parks of Kuršiu nerija (Lithuania) and of Kuršiu nerija (Lithuania) and Kurshskaya kosa (Russia). Kurshskaya kosa (Russia).

• The sandy marine beaches of the The sandy marine beaches of the Curonian spit together with nice Curonian spit together with nice traditional resorts, mature pinewoods traditional resorts, mature pinewoods and the magnificent vistas over the and the magnificent vistas over the drifting dunes and the Curonian lagoon drifting dunes and the Curonian lagoon form the most valuable tourism form the most valuable tourism attraction of the whole region. Thus attraction of the whole region. Thus Curonian lagoon has become an Curonian lagoon has become an international tourism destination. international tourism destination.

• In both the Lithuanian and Russian parts of In both the Lithuanian and Russian parts of the Curonian lagoon region fishing and the Curonian lagoon region fishing and agriculture have maintained their leading agriculture have maintained their leading roles in the local economy during the 1990s roles in the local economy during the 1990s and early 2000s. and early 2000s.

• The economic performance of these sectors The economic performance of these sectors and their capacity to provide a decent living and their capacity to provide a decent living for the local population has declined for the local population has declined dramatically because of the emergence of dramatically because of the emergence of the market economy and the change of the market economy and the change of mechanisms behind the production from a mechanisms behind the production from a matter of central planning to local decisions matter of central planning to local decisions affected by prices of resources needed and affected by prices of resources needed and products manufactured.products manufactured.

• Tourism is a new emerging opportunity for a Tourism is a new emerging opportunity for a truly sustainable and decent future of the truly sustainable and decent future of the region if its development is based on the key region if its development is based on the key strengths of the Curonian lagoon region as an strengths of the Curonian lagoon region as an area with outstanding natural amenities.area with outstanding natural amenities.

• The Curonian spit is by far the most The Curonian spit is by far the most suitable area for tourism development in suitable area for tourism development in the region, but its status as a national park the region, but its status as a national park appears to ensure a strong legal protection appears to ensure a strong legal protection against large-scale developments outside against large-scale developments outside the areas already developed. It seems very the areas already developed. It seems very important to discuss whether the spit important to discuss whether the spit should be reserved mainly for low-scale should be reserved mainly for low-scale exclusive tourism, affordable only to exclusive tourism, affordable only to foreigners and rich locals, or whether there foreigners and rich locals, or whether there should also be facilities for locals with should also be facilities for locals with "normal" incomes. At present the trend "normal" incomes. At present the trend seems to be the first. seems to be the first.

• From the rural, agro-, eco-, and water-From the rural, agro-, eco-, and water-tourism perspectives, the Nemunas delta tourism perspectives, the Nemunas delta is much more attractive than the is much more attractive than the Curonian spit. But whether the expected Curonian spit. But whether the expected sustainable tourism development sustainable tourism development opportunities will be realized and opportunities will be realized and remains open to questioning. The remains open to questioning. The utilization of rich natural resources for utilization of rich natural resources for sustainable tourism development in the sustainable tourism development in the Curonian lagoon region and its economic Curonian lagoon region and its economic and social recovery will be possible only and social recovery will be possible only if the region bases its development on if the region bases its development on essential principles of sustainability. essential principles of sustainability.

• The Department of Recreation and The Department of Recreation and Tourism at Klaipeda University Tourism at Klaipeda University together with the EUCC Baltic Office together with the EUCC Baltic Office are the leading institutions facilitating are the leading institutions facilitating the sustainable tourism development the sustainable tourism development in the Curonian lagoon area. The whole in the Curonian lagoon area. The whole process started in 1993 when efforts process started in 1993 when efforts aimed at fostering the sustainable aimed at fostering the sustainable development of Rusne island in the development of Rusne island in the Nemunas delta and the promotion of Nemunas delta and the promotion of sustainable tourism became one of the sustainable tourism became one of the key priorities of the program.key priorities of the program.

INTEGRATED CROSS-BORDER INTEGRATED CROSS-BORDER MANAGEMENT PLAN MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR CURONIAN SPITFOR CURONIAN SPIT

Task 4. Promotion of the responsible tourism on the Curonian SpitTask 4. Promotion of the responsible tourism on the Curonian Spit

• To facilitate the To facilitate the prevalence of the responsible tourismprevalence of the responsible tourism development on the Curonian Spitdevelopment on the Curonian Spit

• To facilitate To facilitate mutual understandingmutual understanding among the local people, among the local people, authorities, visitors, stakeholders and conservationists on the authorities, visitors, stakeholders and conservationists on the key tasks of conservation on the Curonian Spitkey tasks of conservation on the Curonian Spit

• To launch nature and cultural heritage To launch nature and cultural heritage education education programmesprogrammes for local people. Particularly for for local people. Particularly for youth and youth and schoolchildrenschoolchildren

• To strengthen motivations of local people and private To strengthen motivations of local people and private stakeholders to shift towards the stakeholders to shift towards the provision of the provision of the responsible tourism servicesresponsible tourism services

• To establish To establish focal best practice pointsfocal best practice points educating local educating local people and privaate stakeholderss in the provision of the people and privaate stakeholderss in the provision of the responsible tourism servicesresponsible tourism services

• To promote To promote maintenance of the authentic cultural maintenance of the authentic cultural heritageheritage as responsible tourism facilities as responsible tourism facilities

schemescheme

PERCEPPERCEPTIONTION

MOTIVATION

ACTION

CCUURROONNIIAAN N

LLAAGGOOOONN

V

IV

III

II

I

PERCEPTUAL MAPPERCEPTUAL MAP

55 types types of perceptions: of perceptions:1.1. Culture dominate based on negative Culture dominate based on negative

backgroundbackground2.2. Nature dominate based on negative Nature dominate based on negative

background background 3.3. Culture + natureCulture + nature4.4. Nature dominate based on poNature dominate based on possitive itive

backgroundbackground5.5. Resort type : “nature must be adapted” Resort type : “nature must be adapted”

PERCEPTIONS TOWARDS PERCEPTIONS TOWARDS NATURE:NATURE:

POSITIVE

PERCEIVED IN LARGE SCALE

SMALL SCALE – ANIMALS (No dunes)

HIGH IDENTIFICATION

Mass tourismMass tourism Eco-Eco-tourismtourism

PERCEPTION OF FUTURE MODEL OF TOURISM

Eco-tourism Mass tourism

AWARENESS BUILDING DIRECTIONS:AWARENESS BUILDING DIRECTIONS: To change the preferential group from To change the preferential group from youth and schoolchildren to „villa‘s youth and schoolchildren to „villa‘s newcommers“(VN)newcommers“(VN) and local adults. and local adults.

From education to From education to creative forms of creative forms of information.information.

Authenticity of cultural heritageAuthenticity of cultural heritage..

HR development - stress on cultureHR development - stress on culture..

Is this sustainability?Is this sustainability?

• Thank youThank you