Interreg Estonia–Latvia Programme project (01.05.2018 – 31.10.2020)

Project budget: EUR 749,755, of which the Estonia–Latvia Cross-Border Cooperation

Programme (European Regional Development Fund) co-financed EUR 637,292.

Project Objective

To diversify the garden tourism offer in Estonia and Latvia by creating an attractive and

sustainable cross-border tourism product “Garden Pearls.”

The project fostered cooperation between the two countries to highlight gardens and parks as

significant parts of tourism destinations and to increase visitor interest in them.

Project Implementation

Within the project, attractive gardens and parks in Latvia and Estonia were brought together in

one common route.

Initially, 44 garden owners participated (21 in Estonia and 23 in Latvia), and today the “Garden

Pearls” network includes 80 gardens and parks, such as manor and city parks, botanical

gardens, collection gardens, arboretums, ornamental gardens, and nurseries.

Main Activities

• Development of garden tourism products and service design;

• Capacity building for garden and park owners and managers;

• Promotion of the “Garden Pearls” route in local and international markets (exhibitions,

• open garden days, marketing materials, digital guide);

• Small-scale improvements in gardens and parks to enhance their attractiveness and

• visitor experience.

Results

The project laid the foundation for a wide network of attractive gardens and parks that promotes

sustainable tourism development and attracts new visitor segments.

The cooperation between Estonian and Latvian partners ensured knowledge exchange and a

unified approach to developing garden tourism in the region.

Project Partners

Lead partner: Vidzeme Tourism Association

Partners in Latvia: University of Latvia, Turaida Museum Reserve, NGOs “Limbažu lauvas”

and “Oleri Manor”, as well as the municipalities of Amata, Burtnieki, Gulbene, Kocēni, and

Rūjiena.

Partners in Estonia: NGO “Estonian Gardens”, University of Tartu (Pärnu College), Viljandi

Regional Development Centre, Pärnu Region, Hiiumaa Vocational School, City of Pärnu, and

Sangaste Manor.