The project «Shifting towards Ecotourism in Protected Areas through Heritage Interpretation» continues with a new important stage — an educational tour to the protected areas of the Visegrad countries. Following the March field trip through the Carpathian national parks and the Spring Session of the International Carpathian School, participants now have the opportunity to explore heritage interpretation practices in the Carpathian region of Slovakia, Hungary, and Poland.
At the end of June, a group of active Ukrainian students who previously took part in the project activities will embark on a study visit across protected areas in Slovakia, Poland, and Hungary. They will be joined by students from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, and Hungary — a total of 30 participants from five countries, united by a shared interest in nature conservation and heritage interpretation.
During the tour, the students will visit key protected areas across the Visegrad region, including:
- Slovakia: Sosna, Muránska Planina, Tatranská Lomnica, Banská Štiavnica;
- Poland: Závažná Poruba, Zakopane;
- Hungary: Duna-Ipoly National Park.
These sites were selected to represent a diversity of approaches to natural heritage interpretation, environmental education, and visitor management. Participants will explore real-life case studies, meet with local experts, and observe how theoretical concepts are implemented in practice.
Working in international teams, the students will design their own interpretation solutions. As part of field assignments, they will develop educational activity concepts for protected areas and present them at a competition. The best proposals may soon be implemented on the ground.
The project is co-financed by the Governments of Czechia, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia through Visegrad Grants from International Visegrad Fund.
The mission of the fund is to advance ideas for sustainable regional cooperation in Central Europe.