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Application of research-based models for site management to extend the summer season on the Curonian
Published on 16 April 2018
Lithuania
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About this good practice
The Curonian Spit (Neringa) is one of the most popular domestic and inbound tourist destinations in Lithuania with ca. 2 million overnights in 2016. Tourism provides a major source of income for Neringa, but it is currently featured by extreme seasonality with roughly 72% of overnight stays taking place between the Midsummer holiday (June 24) and the Assumption holiday (August 15). It is mainly due to a very short bathing season in the Baltic Sea, which starts in the beginning of July, when the nearshore water temperature reaches 16 to 17°C – although not every year – becoming attractive for diehard seaside visitors to take short dips into the water, and lasts till the end of August, with nearshore water temperature almost never exceeding 20°C.
About 12km out of nearly 50km of the Baltic Sea beaches along the Lithuanian part of the Curonian Spit are used for recreational purposes. They are featured by excellent bathing water quality meeting the criteria set by the EU Water Bathing Directive 2006/7/EC, and are regularly awarded the Blue Flag international beach quality award.
About 12km out of nearly 50km of the Baltic Sea beaches along the Lithuanian part of the Curonian Spit are used for recreational purposes. They are featured by excellent bathing water quality meeting the criteria set by the EU Water Bathing Directive 2006/7/EC, and are regularly awarded the Blue Flag international beach quality award.
Resources needed
300,000.00 €
Evidence of success
The evidence of success of the good practice include small scale local improvement of water quality (pilot installation) at a single location south of Nida, which is agreed by all key stakeholders, but, most importantly, increased awareness of local stakeholders interested in water quality and tourism and innovations (SMEs) of the tested technological application. We aim to enhance the capacity of local communities to improve and protect their environment and to make use of sustainable tourism.
Potential for learning or transfer
Although the practice is still not transferred to other protected areas participating in the IMPACT project, nevertheless we consider it as being potentially interesting for other regions to learn from because it is based on a typical case study: the challenge to find a local, research-based solution for a boreal seaside resort with the need to extend the summer tourist season facing the problems of a regional scale which are beyond the local community’s capacity to influence.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
EUCC Baltic Office
Lithuania