Forest and Coastal Hiking Trails’ accessibility improvement for different social groups (Accessible Hiking Trails)

The accessibility of hiking trails will be focused on 5 target groups – 1) people with functional impairments (movement, vision, hearing); 2) for seniors; 3) for families with small children, i.e. strollers; 4) for school-aged children; 5) for people with a language or cultural barrier. Trail accessibility will be improved in separate phases.

 

 

Title Forest and Coastal Hiking Trails’ accessibility improvement for different social groups
Abbreviation Accessible Hiking Trails 
Project' s No. EE-LV00013
Programme Interreg V-A – Estonia-Latvia 2021-2027
Partners
  1. Latvian Country Tourism Association “Lauku Celotajs” (Latvia) – Lead Partner
  2. Kurzeme Planning Region (Latvia)
  3. Vidzeme Planning Region (Latvia)
  4. Riga Planning Region (Latvia)
  5. Movement Spontaneous, NGO (Latvia)
  6. Estonian Rural Tourism, NGO (Estonia)
  7. Pärnu Bay Rotary Club (Estonia)
  8. Municipality of Häädemeeste (Estonia)
  9. Setomaa Municipality Government (Estonia)
  10. Peipsimaa Tourism, NGO (Estonia)
Objective

The project objective is to improve accessibility of the Baltic Hiking trails – the Coastal Hiking Trail and the Forest Trail – for different social groups by implementing accessibility and inclusive marketing solutions in the territory of both trails, in Latvia and Estonia.
Activities
  1. Project partner organisations will continue cooperation after the project is completed based on a formal agreement to continue cooperation, after the end of the supported project. Project partners will consult the organisations that will uptake the accessibility solutions.
  2. The following pilot solutions will be taken up by organisations:
  • Wheelchair accessibility solutions to facilitate wheelchair hiking on different surfaces.
  • Accessibility solutions for impaired vision (audio guides, special signposting, brail, etc.).
  • Web cam accessibility solutions for trail current condition visualization before the hiking trip (safe hiking planning for seniors, families with young children).
  • Accessibility solutions adapting hiking for families with young children (short distance hiking loops on trails, attractive and nature educational games and 3D objects while on a hike).
  • Self-guided hiking skills for school youth.
  • Adaptation for foreign language and cross-cultural social groups.
  • Guided hikes for people with disabilities.
Result

Cooperation with stakeholders and project partners from Latvia and Estonia and environmental accessibility solutions have been developed, enabling a wider public to enjoy the hiking experience.
Budget The total budget of the Project - 1 245 027,00 EUR
ERDF Interreg VI-A Estonia – Latvia Programme contribution - 996 021,60 EUR
VPR budget - 129 880,00 EUR
Implementation Period 01.07.2023. - 30.06.2026.
Contact Person

Eva Meijere

+371 25665567

eva.meijere@vidzeme.lv
Project' s Website

https://baltictrails.eu/ 

www.estlat.eu