TransDanube Travel Stories

Priority

Environment and culture responsible Danube region

Specific objective

Foster sustainable use of natural and cultural heritage and resources

Project description

The Danube region is rich in cultural and natural heritage. Whereas there are already many initiatives dealing with conservation and research, the project recognises sustainable tourism as another important option to use and preserve this heritage. European Cultural Routes and the other networks represented in this project set first steps to valorise these assets in that direction.

Recognizing the vast cultural and natural heritage, the project Transdanube Travel Stories aims at supporting sustainable tourism in the Danube region by implementing innovative promotion concepts (new narratives) and sustainable mobility management tools.

1. The development of new narratives is the strategy to promote the Danube macro-region as touristic area. Single sites do not attract tourists, but linking selected sites to a story (along a trail) that can be experienced will create interest and lead to a Danube memory.
2. The integration of mobility management instruments (mobility managers, mobility centres, mobility plans) in institutional structures at route and destination level will make it easier for tourists to experience the new narratives by using environmentally-friendly means of transport and therefore limit the negative, transport related consequences of raising tourist numbers.
3. The establishment of tourism product clubs at destination level and improved thematic and institutional linkages between the European Cultural Routes and other networks will strengthen the cooperation between the key actors and will increase their capacities to promote sustainable tourism in the Danube region.

New narratives and mobility management together with advanced institutional capacities will provide the framework to better position the Danube as a unique sustainable tourism destination on the market resulting in more European citizens experiencing European cultural and natural heritage in a sustainable way.

Project Partners

Environment Agency Austria, Lead partner, Austria
Danube Office Ulm/Neu-Ulm, ERDF partner, Germany
WGD Danube Upper Austria Tourism Ltd., ERDF partner, Austria
Tourism Board Linz, ERDF partner, Austria
West Pannon Regional and Economic Development Public Nonprofit Ltd, ERDF partner, Hungary
Institute for Culture, Tourism and Sport Murska Sobota, ERDF partner, Slovenia
Croatian Association for Tourism and Rural Development „The Village Membership Club”, ERDF partner, Croatia
Association for promoting tourism in Oradea and its region, ERDF partner, Romania
DANUBEPARKS – Danube River Network of Protected Areas, ERDF partner, Austria
Danube Competence Center (DCC), IPA partner, Serbia
Austrian Federal Ministry of Sustainability and Tourism, Associated partner, Austria
Reseau Art Nouveau Network, Associated partner, Belgium
European Association for the Preservation and Promotion of Jewish Culture and Heritage, Associated partner, Luxembourg
Iter Vitis – European Cultural Route of the Vine, Associated partner, Italy
Hungarian Council of the Saint Martin European Cultural Route, Associated partner, Hungary
Rail Tours Touristik Ltd., Associated partner, Austria
Ulm/Neu-Ulm Touristik GmbH, Associated partner, Germany
Ministry of Regional Development and Public Administration, Associated partner, Romania