Launch of the VITOUR project on 15 and 16 September 2005 in Alijó (Upper Douro, Portugal)

The project   

 

OBJECTIVES: The overall objective of the VITOUR project is to create new references on the sustainable development of world heritage sites, through improving their landscape management and developing innovative tourist offers by : 1) Identifying good practice and the critical success factors in achieving high levels of sustainable development ; 2) Informing decision-makers of relevant landscape management issues and new tourist offers - discussing their application at the local level ; 3) Using the mechanisms developed in the project to bring the lessons learnt to the attention of a wider audience in each of the 7 local sites and during international wine fairs.

 

PARTNERSHIP: The VITOUR network is made up of 7 partners from 6 EU Member States. It combines public authorities and wine / tourism representatives. These 7 European regions are designated as UNESCO World Heritage sites, due to their cultural landscapes. Working together, they should achieve the identified goals. The close involvement of public authorities will be secured directly or indirectly in each area.

 

ACTIVITIES: There are 4 components: C1: Management and coordination ; C2: Development of joint tools and strategic guidelines ; C3: Interregional workshops on landscape management / innovative tourist offers ; C4: Dissemination of the results.

 

MAIN EXPECTED OUTPUTS, RESULTS and IMPACTS: Outputs :C1 : 6 steering committees; C2 : 7 local territorial analyses + 1 synthesis, 1 study on a better territorial adaptation to international demand for wine tourism, 1 joint database, proposal of charter and action plan ; C3 : 4 workshops on four specific themes, 4 local dissemination sessions with public authorities, 4 study visits ; C4 : 4 working group "communication" meetings, 1 expert session on communication, 2 conferences, 1 communication plan, 1 set of communication tools. Results: - exchange of “know-how” between wine professionals, tourism professionals and regional/local authorities ; - definition of a plan of action to conceive and promote international products for wine tourism development; - creation of a common charter on sustainable development of the World Heritage wine sites (to be transferred to other regions). Impact : mainly application of renewed sustainable development practices in the UNESCO sites.

 

Partners

Duration of the project

 

The project will run for a period of 2½ years, from July 2005 to December 2007.

 

Budget

 

The total budget for the project is €639,000 and is financed from European funds.

 

Steering committees

 

Steering committee meetings will take place as follows (more details in the provisional schedule):