Project name: Tourists and nature together
Project code: 0410-2SC-BIO-PC1-001
Support measure: Promoting sustainable tourism and enhancing biodiversity in protected areas
Financing: Second Swiss-Slovak Cooperation Programme
Specific objective: 1. Environmental and climate protection
Project Promoter: Ministry of the Environment of the Slovak Republic
Total project grant: EUR 22,942,500
Project grant for the Veľká Fatra National Park: 3,390,349 euros
Project start date: 06.12.2024
Planned project completion date: 31.12.2028
Slovak partners:
Administration of the Slovak Karst National Park with its seat in Brzotín,
Tatra National Park Administration with its seat in Tatranská Lomnica,
Administration of the Low Tatras National Park with its registered office in Banská Bystrica,
Administration of the Pieniny National Park with its seat in Spišská Stará Ves,
The Administration of the Veľká Fatra National Park with its registered office in Martin,
Slovak Paradise National Park Administration with its seat in Spišská Nová Ves,
Administration of the Malá Fatra National Park with its seat in Varín,
Poloniny National Park Administration based in Stakčín,
Administration of the Muránska planina National Park with its seat in Revúca
Foreign partners:
Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissen-schaften Institut für Umwelt und Natürliche Ressourcen (Zurich University of Applied Sciences Institute of Natural Resource Sciences)
Project summary:
A project of the Ministry of the Environment of the Slovak Republic implemented in cooperation with the administrations of all 9 national parks. The main objective of the project is to regulate and redirect the flow of tourists to less exploited areas of national parks through the promotion of sustainable tourism and environmental education, including specific measures for their protection. Among other things, 14 buildings reconstructed in the project, at least one in each park, will serve to achieve the intention. A Sustainable Tourism Development Strategy and other necessary documents for better management of parks will be created (in one case) for each park. A unified smart tourist information application and website will help to effectively and modernly inform and educate visitors. New sustainable tourism offers will be created, regional identity and ties will be strengthened, slow tourism will be promoted and local products will be promoted. The National Parks Alliance will be established as a common communication platform.
Project results:
- Established sustainable tourism in national parks
- Improved protection of ecosystems and their increased resilience to threats of biodiversity loss
- Better governance of nature conservation and sustainable tourism at national level
Project outputs:
- Sustainably improved infrastructure of facilities in national parks and used for activities contributing to the protection of ecosystems and biodiversity
- Developed and managed sustainable tourism activities in national parks
- Developed environmental education and awareness-raising activities on biodiversity conservation and sustainable forms of tourism services
- Local people involved in activities to protect ecosystems and biodiversity
- Mapped, developed, tested and implemented pilot initiatives and measures to protect biodiversity
- Strategies, management or action plans for the development of sustainable tourism and the protection of biodiversity developed, revised or updated by national park administrations
- Improved cooperation between strategic stakeholders on sustainable tourism, ecosystem protection and biodiversity, and networking supported
Project activities:
- Reconstruction and construction of facilities for activities supporting sustainable tourism and the protection of ecosystems and biodiversity.
- Joint support of sustainable tourism in national parks and its promotion.
- Development of tourism activities to guide the influx of tourists and promote sustainable tourism
- Environmental education and protection of ecosystems and biodiversity
- Networking, cooperation and management of nature conservation and sustainable tourism
- Bilateral cooperation
Project contract: https://www.crz.gov.sk/zmluva/10440974/
Partnership Agreement: https://www.crz.gov.sk/zmluva/10524412/
Project Details: https://swiss-contribution.sk
