Regional strategies in Baltic countries

The article describes existing situation and gives analysis of the regional development policy determination and implementation in the all three Baltic countries. The starting point of the regional policy formulation and creation was equal for Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania since 1991. According statistical indicators there are differences between implementation of the regional development activities between all Baltic countries and in regions of inside each country. Disparities between countries illustrate Gross domestic product per capita according to purchasing power standards in 2000 were: Latvia 6700, Lithuania 7500 and Estonia 8600 PPS. Registered unemployment rate, which is one of the statistical indicators for the regional development evaluation, shows negative regional disparities in Latvia in 2001. The highest difference was between Riga region (the richest) and Latgale (the poorest) region is 3.7 times. The author is analysed more detail differences between regions in Latvia and main guidelines of the regional policy implementation in Lithuania and Estonia. Analyses show differences of the institutional mechanism in all three Baltic Countries. The legal bases are different by time and content in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The executive institutions are different at national and regional levels in all three Baltic Countries. In Latvia are accepted five regions correspond to EU NUTS level 3. In Estonia are five regions and in Lithuania 10 counties correspond to regions. Regional development policy support is concentrated on separate territories in each country according EU regional policy principles. The most important regional development program is specially supported region program, which is on-going regional development instrument in Latvia. The main part of specially supported areas is located in Latgale region. National Government of Latvia was selected Latgale and Zemgale regions as the target regions for Phare 2000 support. In 2001-2003 National Policy for Regional Development in Lithuania are focused on three target regions for concentration of Phare support and Lithuania Cabinet support to the regional development: Klaipeda-Taurage, Marijampole and Utenas counties. In Estonia the regional policy to target areas is implemented through the regional development programs as Program for the Agricultural areas, Program for the Industrial areas, Program for the Islands, Program for the Network of centres, Program for the Local Initiative, Program for the cross-border-Cooperation and Program for the Setomaa region. The expected results and evaluation system are not included in the regional development policy documents in all three countries. It is one of the weakest points of the regional development policy implementation process in Latvia. The regional development legislation is very general without monitoring indicators and evaluation process. The author has analysed prepared development strategies of regions according possibility to evaluate success of development planning documents. The descriptive analyse of documents, statistical indicators, matrixes and interviews with responsible persons for the regional development policy at national level and regional level were used in the research.

Cross border cooperation –promoter of tourism development

Accord Aydalot (1986), the firm in no heaven-sent agent free to “choose” an environment, it is secrete by its environment. The firm is not an isolated innovative agent but is part of the milieu, which makes it act. The competitive and innovative performance of the territory, territories more or less competitive and innovative, requires persistence and participation of the different actors: companies, institutions of support and assistance to the company’s activity, public institutions. We do not have the ambition to cover the whole different actors, but illustrate the approach that reflect the better performance innovative of the companies is associate to different factors of the environment milieu and evaluate the determinant conditions of participation in innovation activities. Our purpose is to analyse the behaviour of the companies of 3 NUTS III of Beira Interior of Portugal, relatively to the innovative initiatives. We use a survey applied to vast set of companies. The methodology is based on the application of the multivariate statistics: k-means analysis clusters that allowed distinguish 3 standard behaviours from the companies. To classify the standard behaviour of the companies and identify the characteristics of each cluster, we applied the crosstabs and compare means. We consider the fowling attributes to the different clusters: process of innovation, the mechanisms of knowledge, the networks and the system of governance. These attributes will help to trace the profile of the innovative behaviours and to perceive which the factors or variables of the environment those are links with the best performance on innovation.

THE RIVER BASIN APPROACH IN TOURISM PLANNING

The article describes advantages and disadvantages in tourism planning, using the river basins as background territory and borders. Tourism development planning is taking place according administrative territorial borders till nowadays in Latvia and in other tourism destinations in abroad. According tourist and visitor needs and environmental friendly approach it is more appropriate to use river basins in tourism planning. Tourists are not interested in administrative borders, but in qualitative tourism products and services. Tourism industry is integrated sector including: traffic, communication, accommodation, energy, public catering, attractions, travel and destination organizers and institutional support to industry. Tourism planning in administrative borders supports fractioned human, nature and financial resources, which finally gives weak and unpopular tourism products. The author has selected as case study for tourism planning Daugava river basin, exactly Ogre – Daugava’s right side tributary - basin. Daugava river basin is in 15th place in ecoregion “Baltic Province” and in 5th place in ecoregion “Baltic Sea” according Water structure directive EEC 2000/60/EC; 11 annex. In year 2003 there is finished project “Daugava basin area management plan” which focuses on planning issues according river basins (Daugava project Latvia Sweden, 2003). The author has selected tributary Ogre basin (area 1730km2), it is 3rd largest river in Latvia (188km) and one of the most attractive rivers for water tourists. It is crucial to develop and strengthen tourism services along the Ogre river, if local enterprises want to receive profit from water tourism. One legal accommodation and two places for tents are situated in Ogre riverbanks. In the course of tourism planning at least primary problems must be solved: lack of toilets, collection of waste, types of water transport. The article prepared using practical observation of the Ogre river basin, interviews with local enterprisers and water tourists in the area. The main conclusions are lack of understanding role of river basin in sustainable way and administrative obstacles for common cooperation. Tourism planning according river basins approach gives preconditions for elaboration sustainable tourism development services and tourism products.

THE RIVER BASIN APPROACH IN TOURISM PLANNING

The article describes advantages and disadvantages in tourism planning, using the river basins as background territory and borders. Tourism development planning is taking place according administrative territorial borders till nowadays in Latvia and in other tourism destinations in abroad. According tourist and visitor needs and environmental friendly approach it is more appropriate to use river basins in tourism planning. Tourists are not interested in administrative borders, but in qualitative tourism products and services. Tourism industry is integrated sector including: traffic, communication, accommodation, energy, public catering, attractions, travel and destination organizers and institutional support to industry. Tourism planning in administrative borders supports fractioned human, nature and financial resources, which finally gives weak and unpopular tourism products. The author has selected as case study for tourism planning Daugava river basin, exactly Ogre – Daugava's right side tributary - basin. Daugava river basin is in 15th place in ecoregion "Baltic Province” and in 5th place in ecoregion "Baltic Sea” according Water structure directive EEC 2000/60/EC; 11 annex. In year 2003 there is finished project "Daugava basin area management plan” which focuses on planning issues according river basins (Daugava project Latvia Sweden, 2003). The author has selected tributary Ogre basin (area 1730km2), it is 3rd largest river in Latvia (188km) and one of the most attractive rivers for water tourists. It is crucial to develop and strengthen tourism services along the Ogre river, if local enterprises want to receive profit from water tourism. One legal accommodation and two places for tents are situated in Ogre riverbanks. In the course of tourism planning at least primary problems must be solved: lack of toilets, collection of waste, types of water transport. The article prepared using practical observation of the Ogre river basin, interviews with local enterprisers and water tourists in the area. The main conclusions are lack of understanding role of river basin in sustainable way and administrative obstacles for common cooperation. Tourism planning according river basins approach gives preconditions for elaboration sustainable tourism development services and tourism products

Regional strategies in Baltic countries

The article describes existing situation and gives analysis of the regional development policy determination and implementation in the all three Baltic countries. The starting point of the regional policy formulation and creation was equal for Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania since 1991. According statistical indicators there are differences between implementation of the regional development activities between all Baltic countries and in regions of inside each country. Disparities between countries illustrate Gross domestic product per capita according to purchasing power standards in 2000 were: Latvia 6700, Lithuania 7500 and Estonia 8600 PPS. Registered unemployment rate, which is one of the statistical indicators for the regional development evaluation, shows negative regional disparities in Latvia in 2001. The highest difference was between Riga region (the richest) and Latgale (the poorest) region is 3.7 times. The author is analysed more detail differences between regions in Latvia and main guidelines of the regional policy implementation in Lithuania and Estonia. Analyses show differences of the institutional mechanism in all three Baltic Countries. The legal bases are different by time and content in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The executive institutions are different at national and regional levels in all three Baltic Countries. In Latvia are accepted five regions correspond to EU NUTS level 3. In Estonia are five regions and in Lithuania 10 counties correspond to regions. Regional development policy support is concentrated on separate territories in each country according EU regional policy principles. The most important regional development program is specially supported region program, which is on-going regional development instrument in Latvia. The main part of specially supported areas is located in Latgale region. National Government of Latvia was selected Latgale and Zemgale regions as the target regions for Phare 2000 support. In 2001-2003 National Policy for Regional Development in Lithuania are focused on three target regions for concentration of Phare support and Lithuania Cabinet support to the regional development: Klaipeda-Taurage, Marijampole and Utenas counties. In Estonia the regional policy to target areas is implemented through the regional development programs as Program for the Agricultural areas, Program for the Industrial areas, Program for the Islands, Program for the Network of centres, Program for the Local Initiative, Program for the cross-border-Cooperation and Program for the Setomaa region. The expected results and evaluation system are not included in the regional development policy documents in all three countries. It is one of the weakest points of the regional development policy implementation process in Latvia. The regional development legislation is very general without monitoring indicators and evaluation process. The author has analysed prepared development strategies of regions according possibility to evaluate success of development planning documents. The descriptive analyse of documents, statistical indicators, matrixes and interviews with responsible persons for the regional development policy at national level and regional level were used in the research

Tourism Challenges in the Baltic States Since EU Enlargement

The paper gives explanation of tourism processes changes in the three Baltic States since 1st May, 2004. The number of tourists are increased in the all three Baltic States during EU enlargement. It does not mean that the benefits from tourism and travel industry is increased at the same figures at the same time because of many tourists are spending small amount of money or they are not spending at all. The main issue is to provide sustainable tourism products for foreign markets, not seperate activities. At the same time it is necessary to develop new sustainable tourism attractions in cities and in rural areas by local initiative if Baltic States wants to increase income from tourism and travel industry.

Tourism Challenges in the Baltic States Since EU Enlargement

The paper gives explanation of tourism processes changes in the three Baltic States since 1st May, 2004. The number of tourists are increased in the all three Baltic States during EU enlargement. It does not mean that the benefits from tourism and travel industry is increased at the same figures at the same time because of many tourists are spending small amount of money or they are not spending at all. The main issue is to provide sustainable tourism products for foreign markets, not seperate activities. At the same time it is necessary to develop new sustainable tourism attractions in cities and in rural areas by local initiative if Baltic States wants to increase income from tourism and travel industry

Cross border cooperation –promoter of tourism development

Accord Aydalot (1986), the firm in no heaven-sent agent free to “choose” an environment, it is secrete by its environment. The firm is not an isolated innovative agent but is part of the milieu, which makes it act. The competitive and innovative performance of the territory, territories more or less competitive and innovative, requires persistence and participation of the different actors: companies, institutions of support and assistance to the company’s activity, public institutions. We do not have the ambition to cover the whole different actors, but illustrate the approach that reflect the better performance innovative of the companies is associate to different factors of the environment milieu and evaluate the determinant conditions of participation in innovation activities. Our purpose is to analyse the behaviour of the companies of 3 NUTS III of Beira Interior of Portugal, relatively to the innovative initiatives. We use a survey applied to vast set of companies. The methodology is based on the application of the multivariate statistics: k-means analysis clusters that allowed distinguish 3 standard behaviours from the companies. To classify the standard behaviour of the companies and identify the characteristics of each cluster, we applied the crosstabs and compare means. We consider the fowling attributes to the different clusters: process of innovation, the mechanisms of knowledge, the networks and the system of governance. These attributes will help to trace the profile of the innovative behaviours and to perceive which the factors or variables of the environment those are links with the best performance on innovation