The overall objective of our project is to enhance capacity of micro and small tourism enterprises and entrepreneurs in rural areas to create and promote new experiential tourism products based on local heritage interpretation by digital technologies and tools. The specific objectives were: - To develop a 2-credit continuing vocational training course in the cross-fields of experiential tourism product development and digital marketing, heritage interpretation and digital storytelling - To develop knowledge and skills of owners and managers of micro and small tourism enterprises and entrepreneurs in rural areas needed to engage in the process of experiential tourism product development, valorising local natural and cultural heritage and using digital technologies and tools - To create a digital portfolio of heritage interpretation stories, “heritage trails” and “thematic quests” that could be experienced in the partners’ rural areas, forming a basis of experiential tourism products of the given destinations - To promote wide dissemination and exploitation of the project results for enhancing travellers’ experience and supporting sustainable development of tourism in natural and rural destinations.
The INHERIT project was inspired by the partners’ work with people living in 4 rural areas - the local communities in the Devetaki plateau, BG, in Hont region, SK, in Pallars Jussà, ES, and in Kato Drys village, CY. The local tourism entrepreneurs, regional tourism organizations, community councils in hese remote regions struggle with depopulation and ageing, rising unemployment rates, low education levels and poor access to training. The project addressed these challenges by developing a continuing vocational training programme, tailored to their needs. By creating new training opportunities, the project was to improve outreach to people living in rural and remote areas, thus contributing to the Erasmus+ priority “Inclusion and diversity in all fields of education, training, youth and sport”. In addition, the project was about learning new practices: creating a digital portfolio of heritage interpretation stories, “heritage trails” and “thematic quests” that can be experienced in the rural areas. This way, INHERIT aimed at founding a basis of experiential tourism products of the 4 destinations, reinforced promotion instruments, hence – improved tourism and economic development.