Cultural (garden) heritage as focal points for sustainable tourism
CultTour aims at implementing strategies to preserve/valorise cultural garden and open space heritage sites by giving it a modern use in tourism, conserving the "genius loci" of the site. The need for professional tourism offer and well-educated staff according to international standards is constantly growing in SEE. This need is addressed by scenarios/strategies for well-adapted tourism development, based on the principles of sustainability and regional economy. Feasibility studies for the restoration and re-use of cultural heritage with a special focus on sites including a garden/park will be done. Financing of subsequent project chains will be prepared by working out business plans and addressing potential investors. To identify regional needs, pilot sites will analyse regional action, interfaces to urban/infrastructure/environmental planning and will do public participation. Common marketing/dissemination will support the economic dimension of the project. CultTour covers a wide range of topics: Cultural garden and open space heritage in the whole SEES will be assessed. A common methodology/tools for future conservation strategies will be defined, addressing the operative level of conservatory work, cooperation with nature conservation and architecture, as well as quality management in tourism. Feasibility studies and model re-utilisation concepts for pilot sites will be a core activity, as a basis for stable and long-term income from tourism. Sector-specific modules for gardeners, constructors, handcraft and tourism staff will be offered as post-graduate programme for professionals and an online university course for landscape architects. To root the project in the regions, workshops on conservatory aspects and concrete regional tourism aspects will be held, integrating the urban/regional/ environmental planning of the municipality. Dissemination of project results in European expert networks will be organised for future co-operation in SEE.