GUIDELINES FOR TOURISM SERVICE PROVIDERS IN JOINING VH NETWORK AND USING VH VISIBILITY TOOLS

Transcription

1 GUIDELINES FOR TOURISM SERVICE PROVIDERS IN JOINING VH NETWORK AND USING VH VISIBILITY TOOLS

2 Table of Contents Introduction! 1 Via Hanseatica: Crossroads of Baltic Nature and Culture! 2 Tourism service providers! 4 VH requirements for tourism service providers for joining VH network! 6 Rights and obligations of VH tourism service providers! 7 Rights of VH tourism service provider within VH network! 7 Obligations of VH tourism service provider within VH network! 7 Practical information! 8 Contcacts! 9 Via Hanseatica! i

3 Introduction These guidelines are prepared to provide tourism sectors entrepreneurs in Via Hanseatica region with essential information how to promote itself within the Via Hanseatica tourism product. To start the cooperation with tourism service providers in Via Hanseatica territory, comprehensive training programme was carried out in and providing information on VH concept, visual identity and its tools, VH objects and specifics attributed needed for service providers. As result many tourism services providers expressed their interest in participating in the development of the product and use VH visibility tools in their individual promotional activities. The document gives essential information about Via Hansetica: Crossroards for Baltic Nature and Culture and its present status, lists potential tourism service providers in Via Hanseatica region and sets down rights and obligations of VH Coordination unit and service providers in promoting private sector within Via Hanseatica product. 1

4 Via Hanseatica: Crossroads of Baltic Nature and Culture Via Hanseatica, The Crossroads of Baltic Nature and Culture is emerging as a key destination for both domestic and foreign tourism in the Baltic States. It is today one of the largest tourism development area in the Baltic region, offering visitors the largest choice of landscapes, nature landmarks, historical sites and cultural experiences. The Via Hanseatica in Estonia, Latvia and Russia was previously constituted of scattered various destinations with their own assets, identity and problems, such as limited budgets for further development. Today the it is an a unified area of over km² across the three unique countries. Via Hanseatica (VH) is the name that was originally given to the road that links many Hanseatic cities, between Lübeck, in Northern Germany, and Saint Petersburg in Russia. The road crosses prestigious cities such as Rostok, Gdansk, Kaliningrad, Riga, Tartu and Narva. The history of the road is illustrative of the history of the Baltic Sea region, being simultaneously a trade route, a postal route, an area of cultural exchange between a Europe under the strong influence of German culture and one under the influence of Russia, and finally a route that was the route of invasions and military clashes between German and Russian armies. After the dismantling of the Soviet Union, and especially since the accession of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia to the European Union, the road has reconciled with its initial meaning of being a transit road for trade and cultural exchanges. Via Hanseatica - Crossroad for Baltic Nature and Culture - part of the tourism route between St. Petersburg and Riga is extremely rich in different regions each having its own beauty and soul, which is closely connected to nature and culture. Between St.Petersburg, Russia and Riga, Latvia the road is 580 km long and crosses the cities St.Petersburg, Kingisepp, Ivangorod in Russia, Narva, Jõhvi, Mustvee, Tartu and Valga in Estonia and Valka, Valmiera, Cēsis and Riga in Latvia. History of the road illustrates the history of the Baltic Sea region, being simultaneously a trade route, a postal route, an area of cultural exchange between Europe nations, and finally a route of invasions and military clashes between German and Russian armies. All that can also be seen in present day. Nature in Via Hanseatica can be described as wild beauty. Many nature reserves and parks offer breathtaking views connected with possibilities to test yourself. But even outside nature reserves and parks you can feel surrounded by nature and history. Many of these beautiful places have been made legendary and immortal with artworks by inspired poets, writers and painters. Via Hanseatica is a mix of different cultures it passes, therefore offering an unforgettable choice of people and cultural heritage on a single trip. Different religions, variety of churches, changing architecture and history of manors, castles and fortresses. But there is one thing that you see is similar - the people treasure their traditions and know how to enjoy life! 2

5 From the perspective of tourism development, Via Hanseatica has now reached a selling point. The whole route is prepared, thematic routes for thematic interest has been created, all is marketed through various materials and intentional tourism fairs. Over 800 objects have been included to Via Hanseatica travel planner with innovative planning possibilities available in. Those are the minimum preconditions for sustainable tourism product. We still face the challenge to set up the right partnership organization, governance system and choices that will ensure continuous sustainability of tourism development in the VH and to continue to be a highly competitive destination in the long run. Vidzeme Planning Region as coordinator of VH development has maintained and advanced strategic approach for advancing region, supported by communication and marketing plan and legal instruments to keep Via Hanseatica activities sustainable and within its planned scope. But to ensure long-term sustainability and sucess of Via Hanseatica as quality tourism product the public development initiatives should be supported by private sector efforts. Therefore strong public-private partnership is required within the tourism sector stakeholders in Via Hanseatica region. We are looking forward for tourism entrepreneurs to be part of Via Hanseatica and market the region through its own activities an services. More information about Via Hanseatica can obtained in 3

6 Tourism service providers Based on the VH concept and legislation of Estonia, Latvia and Russia the tourism service providers can be divided into following groups: tour operators - a travel undertaking which organizes packages, and offers packages for sale or sells packages itself or through other travel undertakings.; tourism agencies- a travel undertaking which offers for sale or sells packages organized by a tour operator; package tourism service providers - provision of the pre-arranged combination of not fewer than two of the following travel services when offered at an inclusive price and when the service covers a period of more than twenty-four hours; tourist accommodations - a building, group of buildings or well-appointed place (territory), in which a merchant or a performer of economic activities ensures daily accommodation and service provision for tourists; tourism information office, centre, point - an association, State or local government institution, an institution established by a local government or several local governments, which provides information regarding tourism objects, services and assists in the utilization of tourist service tourist guide - a natural person who has a professional qualification certificate issued by a certification institution and who guides tourists and sightseers in a specific area and in a language selected by him or her presents the cultural and nature values thereof. Tourism undertaking can be in the form of ownership be businesses, agencies, foundations and non-profit organizations. The tourism services provided in VH can be divided into: the provision of travel services by travel undertakings the provision of accommodation and catering services; the provision of accommodation services; the provision of conference services; the provision of accommodation and medical rehabilitation services; the provision of tourist guide services and services of guide-interpreters and tour escorts; the provision of packages. Each service provider can search Via Hanseatica travel planner in section Points of Interest and see if its service or object is included in our database providing travel planning help for 4

7 tourists and travel operators. If the service if not included but there is clear interest to include it, please contacts persons indicated in CONTACTS section. 5

8 VH requirements for tourism service providers for joining VH network Via Hanseatica partnership and appointed coordinators are advancing cooperation with all tourism service provides providing services in the territory of VH. To establish working cooperation ties and ensure quality service provision under the slogan of Via Hansetica: Crossroads of Baltic Nature and Culture the service providers requesting the use of VH visibility tools and getting direct benefit of VH promotional and development work must meet both national legislative requirements and specific requirements of VH. Requirements of VH to VH tourism service provider: 1. Has to be located and provide services in VH area 2. Has basic knowledge about VH (preferably has participated in VH trainings) 3. Has to comply with VH profile (quality service provision, with long time strategic view of development, preserving environment and cultural heritage) 4. Has high level of client service 5. Provides services both in local language and in one foreign language (English, German, Russian, etc) 6. Has ALL legally required licenses and permissions to undertake tourism service provision (national legislative requirements must be followed at all time) Written proof of points 3, 5 and 6 must be provided. The compliance with with points 1, 2 and 4 will be evaluated during written or oral interview with the service provider. 6

9 Rights and obligations of VH tourism service providers In order to ensure mutual benefit of all stakeholders VH tourism service provider will have set of rights and obligations to be followed on every-day basis. Rights of VH tourism service provider within VH network VH tourism service provides has right to: 1. Use VH visibility tools (logo, concept, etc.) in its promotional material and in connection with its service provision (Annex 1: VH logo guidelines) 2. Receive information on latest developments in Via Hanseatica tourism area development (automatically) 3. Be included to VH databases and specific promotional materials 4. Have information about other VH tourism service providers 5. Have priority in participating on VH training and seminars Obligations of VH tourism service provider within VH network VH tourism service provider is obliged to: 1. Use VH visibility tools only in the set framework (Annex 1: VH logo guidelines) 2. Maintain high level of service provision 3. Carry out VH promotion in promotional materials and events 4. Inform immediately VH coordinator unit of any changes of legal framework or services 5. Inform immediately VH coordinator unit of any legal suits against service provider (related to tourism service provision) 7

10 Practical information To become a designated VH service provider, become part of VH tourism service providers network and obtain mentioned rights the tourism service provider should: 1. Get familiar with VH tourism area Via Hanseatica: Crossroads of Baltic Nature and Culture (documents are available in and upon request from contact persons provided in CONTACTS section). 2. Send official request in joining VH tourism service providers network to one of the contact persons provided in CONTACTS section, with following information: a. Name of the organization/company b.official reference numbers and license numbers c. List of services offered to tourist d.name of the official representative e. Contact information (incl. official address, phones, www, phone numbers, addresses). The service provider shall be contacted within 3 weeks after submission of the request for carrying out interview and provision of additional documents. The approval or declination of membership of the service provider to VH network shall be announced within two month after the submission of the request. After receiving approval confirmation all the rights and obligation shall become into force and VH tourism service provider will be subject for continuous evaluation form the VH coordination unit on subject of its obligations toward VH network. All VH tourism service providers will have right to stop its membership from VH network. Such request should be sent one of the contacts provided in CONTACT section. Confirmation will be sent to the e- mail address of the service provider. All rights and obligation shall stop from the date of confirmation . Via Hanseatica coordinating units have right to stop VH network membership, if VH tourism service provider fails to fulfill its obligations toward VH network or harms the reputation of the VH. indicating the cession of the membership and reasons will be sent by one of the VH coordinators (or contacts appointed by them) to the address of the service provider. All rights and obligation shall stop from the date of cessation until all disputes are solved and such confirmation mail has been sent by Via Hanseatica coordinating unit. 8

11 Sille Talvet Overall coordinator Contacts Vidzeme Planning Region/Gravitas consult LLC, T.: Sille Roomets Estonian country coordinator Valga county development agency, T.: Elena Belova Russian country coordinator NCO International Centre for Social and Economic Research "Leontief Centre, T.: Dagnija Ūdre Latvian country coordinator Vidzeme Planning Region, T.: