Soomaa study tour report 2012

Soomaa Study tour

Anne, Viki, Lili, Pirjo. Lea, Merja, Algis, Aivar is taking photo and Meelis is already making preparations for bog renovation workshop

What is Soomaa?• “the land of bogs”• National park established in 1933, one of 5

national parks in Estonia, 390 km2 of raised bogs, flood grasslands, forests and rivers

• First written documents of the settlements from 1588, both pritave and pubic land

• 5 seasons, the fifth is the flood season.• The national park belongs to Pan Parks network

and have Eden 2009, RAMSAR, IBA and Natura 2000 labels

MAP

The most common and least protected...

The rural tourism today

• Accommodation, catering services, experiences, renting equipment, guided tours, crafts workshops,

• What are their competitive advantages? They think more and more about marketing issues: websites and social media but they have no enough staff to deal with increased number of visitors.

Wooden boats (aspen) represents the identity of the area. One log boat was the only vehicle during floods.

Spatial planning

• The area is very sensitive and the carrying capacity should be monitored and the devlopment plans should be designed and implemented for avoiding future problems.

• It seems that National Park tourism management plans are written but not communicated enough among stakeholders.

Practical comments• Communication among stakeholders about goals,

monitoring and needed changes.• Involvement youngsters, their parents and teachers

from primary and secondary schools: outside classes and future planning.

• Adults should be involved to the tourism development: study visits.

• There should be agreement between schools, park authorities, municipalities and entrepreneurs

Very practical comments• Equipment to manage with mosquitos:• Garbage pins on the starting points of trails are

missing (there are different viewpoints).• Safety on bog walks should be ensured, group

should go together and should be controlled by responsible guide

• Water should be available all things what are needed should be recommended to take with us

• Are the bogwalks environmentaly friendly at all?• Going in lines on bog is not environmentally

friendly but how achieve safety matters ?

Tõramaa Visitor Centre

9 maintained trails within the Natural park with infrastucture like parking and fire places etc.

6 of the trails are wooden trails (duckbords)

Actictivities like:

- hiking, canoeing, kayaking, beaver safaris, bog walking and shoeing, wildlife watching, mushrooming and berry picking, showshoeing, kick sledging, cross country skiing and ice fishing (www.soomaa.com)

.

Cooperation• ... with international tourism certifiction and

labelling authorities.• ... between different providers: activity tourism,

accommodation, very mobile catering service, bogshoes making workshops. They don´t try to provide everything themselves.

• ... between National Park and providers and universities

• Active participation in decision making process and in global tourism marketing: eg. Lonely Planet, Adventure Travel, WHL Travel.

Future of tourism? Active participation?

Strength of the area

• National parks have a lot of functions: ecological, aesthetical, tourist, recreational, educational, research, cultural. This means this should guide to more diversified products and services, that could lead the destination to more diversified target groups and markets.

• Proudness of people of the area

Combining nature conservation to tourism

• The work is led by local people• The spots are agreed with national park

management• Workshops last from 3-5 hours• You can combine guided walk with some

important work

Case: Summer Academy

Happy end ...