COMCOT
An innovative tool for improving the competitiveness of community based tourism
- Thematic cluster:
- SMEs
- Programme:
- Southern Finland - Estonia Sub-programme
- Priority:
- 2. Economically competitive and innovative region
- Direction of support:
- Creating and supporting innovative and competitive environments
- Duration:
- Nov 2010 - Oct 2013 (3 years, 0 months)
- Total funding:
- 723 373 €
- ERDF funding:
- 584 201 €
- EUSBSR Priority area
- Promote entrepreneurship and strengthen the growth of SMEs
- Website:
- http://pk.emu.ee/en/comcot
Development idea
The tourism sector is expanding in the Central Baltic region. In many rural areas in Finland and Estonia, tourism has developed to become a primary source of income. With this comes the need for new, sustainable, high-quality market-oriented products linked together on local, regional and international levels. There is also a need to improve competitiveness, integration with related sectors, awareness of client expectations and the environmental impact due to increased tourism.
Aim of the project
The Comcot project developed innovative and sustainable community-based tourism with high local ownership. The project expanded opportunities for local-level actors to develop competitive tourism by combining cross-border cooperation networks with joint community work at local level.
Main project activities
By creating new strategic thinking and innovative planning by communities and by improving business skills, the project developed more competitive businesses and targeted products and services to existing and new clients. The project also supported entrepreneurs to improve their effectiveness in developing new innovative products.
Partners
The Estonian University of Life Sciences
- Country:
- Estonia
- Region:
- Kesk-Eesti
- ERDF funding:
- 163 622 €
- Amount of eligible national funding:
- 28 875 €
University of Helsinki Ruralia Institute
- Country:
- Finland
- Region:
- ADJACENT AREAS
- ERDF funding:
- 116 198 €
- Amount of eligible national funding:
- 38 732 €
Union of Rural Municipalities of Setomaa
- Country:
- Estonia
- Region:
- Lõuna – Eesti
- ERDF funding:
- 35 424 €
- Amount of eligible national funding:
- 6 251 €
The Assosiation of Water and Environment of Western Uusimaa
- Country:
- Finland
- Region:
- Uusimaa
- ERDF funding:
- 53 183 €
- Amount of eligible national funding:
- 17 728 €
Maidla Municipality
- Country:
- Estonia
- Region:
- Kirde-Eesti
- ERDF funding:
- 35 424 €
- Amount of eligible national funding:
- 6 251 €
Lake Vortsjarv Foundation
- Country:
- Estonia
- Region:
- Kesk-Eesti
- ERDF funding:
- 35 424 €
- Amount of eligible national funding:
- 6 251 €
Evanter OÜ
- Country:
- Estonia
- Region:
- Lääne-Eesti
- ERDF funding:
- 84 307 €
- Amount of eligible national funding:
- 14 878 €
Development Association Sepra
- Country:
- Finland
- Region:
- Kymenlaakso
- ERDF funding:
- 60 619 €
- Amount of eligible national funding:
- 20 206 €
Results
An Innovative Tool for Competitiveness of Community-Based Tourism - A Handbook
Community-based tourism development experiences from six different pilot regions were analysed and collected together to form a community-based tourism development process (COMCOT tool).
The development process presented in this guidebook provides practical help for all those communities and others interested in implementing rural community-based tourism development. In addition to the process, practical methods are also presented and the potential risks in each phase are highlighted.
COMCOT Tool (ENG)
Evaluation of a community-based tourism development process
A report based on the evaluation of the community-based tourism development process piloted during the project.
The key actors involved in the COMCOT project were asked to assess the extent to which the COMCOT project met the expectations of the key actors, to identify the success factors for an effective community-based tourism development process, and to identify the perceived barriers that may hinder a successful community-based tourism development. The findings are presented in the report.
The evaluation of the community-based tourism development process (ENG)
Stand-alone 3D simulation programmes for tourism design
3D simulations supporting communities in designing tourism plans and the related decision making
The simulation programme can be downloaded by following the link below. It allows to "fly" over the 3D-simulated communities as in a video game. There's also a possibility to e.g. hit the play button to launch a flight along a pre-recorded path.
System requirements: Windows XP/Windows 8. More powerful CPU and graphics card are recommended.
| www.eau.ee/~pv/COMCOT/ |
