New tourism products as synergy of cultural heritage, education and cooperation between Kętrzyn and Šalčininkai (CulTour)
Project number:
LTPL00308
Project number:
Ongoing
Call:
2
Priority:
2. Promoting physical, emotional and cultural wellbeing
Specific objective:
2.2 - Enhancing the role of culture and sustainable tourism in economic development, social inclusion and social innovation
Date:
From: 2024.12.01 Till: 2025.11.30
Project summary:
The project aims to enhance the tourist attractiveness of Kętrzyn in Poland and Šalčininkai in Lithuania by promoting their shared cultural heritage and fostering cross-border cooperation in culture, education, and tourism. These small towns face economic and demographic challenges, including high unemployment, youth outmigration, and limited tourism offerings, while being off major tourist routes. The project addresses these issues by creating two new cultural-tourist trails—“History of Lithuania in Kętrzyn” and “Polish History in Šalčininkai”—involving young people, historians, tourist guides, local communities, and the media. Through this collaborative process, the project will uncover both known and surprising historical connections between the towns and their countries, developing a methodology for creating cultural-tourist routes that can be replicated by other small towns. By extending the tourist season, increasing the competencies of local tourism organizers, and creating innovative tourism products, the project seeks to generate new jobs, strengthen local economies, and foster a deeper awareness and appreciation of shared heritage in the cross-border region.
Lead Partner:
Kętrzyn Municipality
Lead Partner region:
Olsztyński subregion
Project Partner(s):
Tourism and Youth Center of Šalčininkai region
Total project budget:
159.075,00
ERDF:
127.260,00
Does the project contribute to the implementation of the EU BSRS?
Yes