Project
INTERNATIONAL FOOD AND ACTIVITY TOURISM (INFACTO)
Tourists are increasingly demanding linked & coordinated activities of higher quality not only at local level but also regionally & internationally. Local food linked to active tourism is increasingly popular but demand is for products of high quality with an authentic experience. Few operators can provide all that is demanded in today’s markets thus necessitating linked or complementary products, for micro-business this means working together, cooperation & joint marketing.
The range of local food & active tourism products & services (local food, nature, culture, heritage & active tourism) is quite wide in Häme & Estonia but they frequently lack this coherence & complementarity; international linkages (networks) are absent or weak there is little product development activity especially in terms of marketing & promotion for the regional/international tourism markets.
The INTERREG IVA Programme places strong emphasis on economic competitiveness and innovation although links between education & entrepreneurs are weak & cross border exchanges require stimulation. Additionally stress is placed on the need for supporting real, vital cooperation, focusing on solving common problems in co-operation, increasing business start-up, entrepreneurship and co-operation networks.
The project aims to raise stakeholder confidence & awareness of the factors behind starting-up and/or diversifying in food & active tourism business. Through network development, training in awareness of customer preferences, market information & increased B2B opportunities, entrepreneurs will be incentivised & encouraged to identify new opportunities thus addressing the clear need for an increased participation and role of small and medium sized enterprises in the Central Baltic Programme economy.
Cross-border added value
Added value comes from from co-operation in research work and results, entrepreneur, staff and student job placement, new partnerships and ideas for product development, product tests and joint trips.
It’s important to understand different nationalities and their habits and get new concepts of working. In this case cross-border food and activity tourism developing together, joint tourist marketing and promotion activities are important. The tourism market for both EE and FI are the same, and added value of working together on joint marketing and promotion activities will create a greater catchment area.
Thinking above also soft values are important; to know each other, building understanding and trust between these regions. Of course we should remember also the economic meaning for each region which comes due to marketing co-operation.
