Geotourism on Central Baltic islands

learning about little-known treasures of Central Baltic islands

1. production of promotional materials (books/travel guides and educational documentary videofilms) for Central Baltic islands on topics:
• Geotourism development on Saaremaa and Hiiumaa islands
• Geotourism development on Estonian small islands
• Geotourism development on Gotland island
• Paleozoic sedimentary rocks and fossils as geotourism targets in Central Baltic area
• Meteorite craters as geotourism targets in Central Baltic area
• Geologic history of the Baltic Sea and geotourism development on the seashores

2. a nature tourism survey including a comprehensive report booklet “Evaluation and suggestions for nature tourism marketing on Central Baltic islands” which brings together achievements and best practices in the nature tourism segment in Estonia, Sweden and Finland

3. educational seminar "Fostering geotourism on Central Baltic islands" followed by an excursion in Saaremaa introducing local geoturism sites as well as learning best practises developed by local tourist enterpreneaurs. This seminar will be the main venue for introducing the accomplished survey on nature tourism developments and further possibilities for cross-border activities to the leaders of local authorities and educational institutions, tourism enterpreneaurs and other people involved in nature protection and sustainable tourism sectors in Nordic countries.

4. conclusive project exhibitions which will be opened in autumn 2011 both in Tallinn as well as in Uppsala. These exhibitions contain a poster session illustrating GEOISLANDS-project achievements together with photoexhibitions of most unique geotourism sites in the Central Baltic islands. The same exhibitions will be taken to Saaremaa and Gotland islands in Spring 2012.

Pile of large erratic boulders offshore Tilgu, NW Estonia

Juniper fields at Rumpo, Vormsi island, Estonia

The “Fostering geotourism on Central Baltic islands” project targets at:

• collecting and reviewing the best available marketing practices in the nature tourism segment both in Sweden and Estonia as well as in Åland islands

• working out suggestions for further developments in nature tourism marketing

• preparing both well-illustrated full-color books and educational videofilms that can be used by local tourism experts to promote both island’s specific geotourism sites/trails as well as to develop cross-border nature tourism routes.

The project objectives should be achieved in implementing in a tight collaboration between main project partners NGO GEOGUIDE BALTOSCANDIA, Estonia and Uppsala University, Sweden. It is however expected that experts from various other institutions will contribute to preparing project materials in sharing their knowledge.