Lake Võrtsjärv region declared the best EDEN destination in Estonia for aquatic tourism 2010
08.06.10
The Võrtsjärv region centred on Estonia’s second “great lake” was today
declared the winner of the Estonia’s Hidden Treasures 2010. Aquatic
tourism” competition. Võrtsjärv won over the jury with its strong,
diverse tourist products, well-functioning cooperative networks and
preservation of rich traditions. The winner will present its attractions
in September at the European Tourism Forum.
Please have a look at EDEN - Lake Võrtsjärv .pdf
The
final selection, which was made at a aquatic tourism seminar held at
the Museum of Coastal Folk, was very close. The head of competition’s
Estonian national jury, deputy director of the Estonian Tourist Board
Marje Braunbrück said that the strength of the Võrtsjärv region was its
very well-organized cooperation network, which spans the entire region
and is expressed in real terms in municipal development plans and
investments into tourism. “As a result of the investments, Võrtsjärv
today has five primary gateways, all of which are tourist destinations
in their own right,” says Braunbrück. She also emphasized the diversity
of the tourist products of the Võrtsjärv region and the fact that they
are orientated to people with different interests. “Võrtsjärv offers
recreational opportunities for people seeking cultural, nature and
active holidays and its tourist products succeed in uniting history and
the present-day in superb fashion,” said Braunbrück.
Director of the
Võrtsjärv Foundation Jaanika Kaljuvee says the Võrtsjärv region is
characterized by three major strengths. First of all, Võrtsjärv is
itself a unique natural resource, being a Natura 2000 bird and nature
reserve area and home to hundreds of plant and animal species of
interest. Second, Kaljuvee highlights the region’s rich historical and
cultural tradition and sustainability of these traditions. And third,
high-quality and multifaceted tourist packages are available, which were
developed as a result of effective cooperation between all parties in
the region – rural municipalities, non-profit associations and local
firms in the tourism sector. The Võrtsjärv region is home to ancient
fishing villages, and has a historical fishing vessel endemic to the
region – the kalepurjekas. The lake, which is rich in eel, carp bream
and pike-perch, also features Estonia’s only freshwater fish museum.
There is also a vernacular bagpipe tradition which dates back many
centuries. Tourists can get the best preview of the sights and
activities in the Võrtsjärv region online at www.vortsjarv.ee or on location at
the Võrtsjärv visitor centre in at Jõesuu – at the mouth of the Suur
Emajõgi.
The competition international jury comprised renowned nature
and tourism experts from Estonia and abroad. The jury was led by Gerald
Broddelez, a nature expert who works for the internationally well-known
travel firm Naturetrack and has experience from 160 countries on all of
the world’s continents.
Three destinations reached the final round:
the island of Muhu (nominated by MTÜ Väinamere Uisk); the Peipsiveere
Sibulatee (“onion road” along the shores of Lake Peipus (nominated by
MTÜ Sibulatee) and the Võrtsjärv region (nominated by Võrtsjärve SA).
The destinations were each vying for the honour with three different
tourist products, which were rated on a five-point scale. Criteria
included the authenticity of the region and its tourist products, the
appeal of the products for domestic and foreign tourists, the
sustainability of the destination and the extent of the planning for at
least the next three years. An additional important criterion was the
thoroughness of marketing and the infrastructure.
The "Estonia’s
Hidden Treasures 2010. Aquatic tourism" competition was announced by
Enterprise Estonia in early March and took place in the framework of the
project "European Destinations of Excellence" (EDEN) initiated by the
European Commission. The aim was to recognize tourism destinations on
coasts, lakes and rivers that embody innovative approaches and provide
water tourism services in a way that leads to the development of a
higher-quality environment while coping with problems of seasonality.
Read more www.edenineurope.eu
A
total of nine destinations were entered in the competition:
the
island of Muhu (MTÜ Väinamere Uisk), Vilsandi National Park, the island
of Saaremaa (MTÜ Meremaa), the coastal villages and manors of Lahemaa
National Park – the settlements of Käsmu and Vergi and the Sagadi,
Palmse and Vihula manors (MTÜ Lääne-Viru Turismiklubi), Peipsiveere
Sibulatee (MTÜ Sibulatee), the Võrtsjärv region (Võrtsjärve SA), Otepää
(Otepää Municipality Government), Romantic Beach Byway in Pärnu County
(MTÜ Pärnu Lahe Partnerluskogu), the village of Ruhnu, and Ruhnu
municipality on the island of the same name (MTÜ Ruhnu Kultuurielu) and
the River Emajõgi-Lake Peipus-Võrtsjärv region (MTÜ Emajõe Lodjaselts).
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