Ukrainian-Romanian Cross-Border Project

“Breaking the Borders: Nature Discovery Trails

to the Eastern Carpathians”

Implementation period: 2012-2014

Project Area

Target Territory:

Ivano-Frankivsk Region of Ukraine and Maramureș County in Romania

Project period: June 2012 – February 2014 (20 months)

Project PartnersCenter for Social and Business Initiatives (leading partner)

Carpathian National Nature Park (Ukraine)

Maramures Mountain Nature Park (Romania)

Association “Ecologic” (Romania)

Tourism Association of Ivano-Frankivsk Region (Ukraine)

Objective

The overall project objective is to develop and promote transfrontier nature tourism centered on the protected area network of Nature Parks and ecological site network that extends across Ivano-Frankivsk region of Ukraine and Maramures county of Romania

Project Beneficiaries

Representatives of nature protective institutions (over 300 persons)

Local businesses and entrepreneurs in the tourism area (over 3000)

Local municipalities and state administrations (38)

Officials of national and regional governments (over 400 people)

Tourist support organizations (NGO, associations) (over 15)

Local populations (about 500,000 people)

Potential and existing visitors to the area (approximately 200,000 per year)

Project ActivitiesGroup 1. Analysis and Strategic Planning: Audit of the existing nature tourism products and services withing

the target area Establishing and promotion of the tourism brand “Carpathian

Nature” Devising a Strategy and Action Plan to promote trans-border

nature tourism in the areaGroup 2. Infrastructure Upgrading and Development: About 90 km of new signed nature trail (for hiking, cycling and

horseback riding) – 3 trails on each side of the border Construction of safety rails, boardwalks, steps, benches and ec-

toilets Construction of 3 renovation of 4 mammal and bird-watching

towers On-site information and enterpretation boards, signs and locality

maps

Project Activities (cont.)Group 3. Promotion and Marketing:•Publication and distribution of the Eastern Carpathians Nature Tourism Guidebook – 5,000 copies•Tourism and Activity Maps (paper and electronic versions) – 10,000 copies•Nature tourism posters for tour operators and visitor centers – 100 copes•Brand souvenirs items like pens, badges, tops, stickers, bags, postcards, calendars, folders – over 5,000 pieces•Familiarization visit for nature based tour operatorsGroup 4. Capacity Building:Development of project design documentation for three future projectsGuidance materials on nature tourism development for NGOs and local municipalitiesInternational nature tourism conference

Center for Social and Business Initiatives,Yaremche, Ukraine

tel/fax: +38 03434 2-2746, cell phone: +38 067 493-7568,e-mail: ivan@csbi.org.uaContact person: Ivan Zinoviev, Executive

Director

For updates on project progress please visit www.CSBI.org.ua

Thank you for your attention!

© Photograph in this presentation are courtesy of Andriy and Olga Maygutyak (Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine)