Ida-Viru | Ida-Virumaa Tourism portaal

NEWS

Interesting new regions on Via Hanseatica tourism route

Project Via Hanseatica Plus started in April 2019. For the next two years, the project, which is funded by the Estonia-Russia Cross Border Cooperation Programme, will concentrate on expanding the tourism route from St. Petersburg (through Narva and Tartu) towards Rakvere and Viljandi in Estonia and towards Vyborg and Pskov in Russia.

Estonia-Russia Cross Border Cooperation Programme 2014-2020 aims to foster cross-border cooperation across the borders between the Republic of Estonia and the Russian Federation to promote socio-economic development in the regions on both sides of the common borders. The Programme web-site is www.estoniarussia.eu.

The old Hanseatic League cities as well as numerous interesting historic regions will be included in the route. Information about the interestina palces and rout can be found http://www.viahanseatica.info

One of the most significant parts of the task is oriented to the marketing of the regions to increase the flow of tourists further away from the capital cities and to extend their stay in the area, offering a variety of interesting sights in the different sections and countries along the Via Hanseatica route.

Numerous Estonian, Russian and Latvian organisations participate in the development of the Via Hanseatica Plus route. The lead partner and coordinator of the cooperation is Tartu County Tourism Foundation. The partners of the project are Museums of Virumaa, Ida-Viru Enterprise Centre,
Tourism Information Centre of the Leningrad Region, Administration of Vyborg municipal district, Committee of Cross-border Cooperation and Tourism of the City Government of Pskov, Committee of culture and tourism of the Gatchina municipal District and St. Petersburg City Government State Geological Unitary Company „Mineral“. The Associated partners include North Estonian Tourism, Pskov Region State Commitee for Culture, Committee for Tourism of Leningrad Region, Vidzeme Planning Region, Vidzeme Tourism Association and The Committee for Nature Use, Environmental Protection and Ecological Safety of St. Petersburg.

- Marketing: improved VH marketing in social media, campaigns, production
on attractive promotional materials, introducing VH regions to travel
agencies and media representatives, cross-marketing
- Networking actions: strengthening networking of VH entrepreneurs and
other stakeholders (including travel industry)
- Capacity building: local and joint (international) trainings and study
trips to improve service quality and variety in VH regions
- Upgrading VH thematic packages to meet expectations of different
travellers (nature and adventure, culture, family, food)

The project's budget for the upcoming two years is 510 068 euros, 10% of
which is covered by the partners as their own contribution. Programme co-financing is 459 061.2 euros. The application for the project was submitted in May 2017 and the financing agreement between the lead partner and the Ministry Of Finance of the Republic of Estonia was signed on April 1, 2019.

VH Plus project is funded by program “Estonia – Russia Cross Border Cooperation Programme 2014-2020” and the Programme website: https://www.estoniarussia.eu

links to web-pages

https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/en/

https://europa.eu/european-union/index_en

Webpage of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation: http://economy.gov.ru/minec/activity/sections/mps/programs/
and webpage of the Ministry of Finance of Estonia https://www.rahandusministeerium.ee/et/interreg

The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of IVEK SA and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of Estonia-Russia Cross Border Cooperation Programme 2014-2020, its participating countries alongside with the European Union.