Project background: Project unites 23 partners – out which 20 partners represent yachting harbours and Esotnia&Latvia and 3 are regional coordinators – Kurzeme and Riga planning regions and Estonian Small Harbour association. Coastline of Latvia&Estonia forms a joint sea basin and jointly it forms on of the four main destinations in the Baltic sea for sailors – East Baltic. Together we have excellent preconditions for benefitting from maritime travel and developing tourism since the coastline and islands carry unique cultural and natural heritage, clean nature and safe conditions in destination. Cross-border nature: Most sailing routes are international – one sailing route cross borders of several countries, and for sailors enter point to our territories is another way point of longer distance – sea tourism itself is not national, regional activity, it is cross-border and international, which means - serving and promoting of routes must follow across the borders. Crucial prerequisite for establishing well-functioning sea routes that connect together coastal areas and activate maritime traffic, is improved conditions and services of small harbours, which build network and which implement common standards and understanding of, how the infrastructure and services should be developed and to serve to satisfy sailors and fulfill expectation, to which they are used to by sailing whole Baltic sea and other sea routes in Europe and other destinations. These improvements can be done only in common cross-border project, to reach the international competitiveness and recognition. Project objective: Project objective is to improve sailing infrastructure and build network of harbours in Estonia and Latvia to promote East Baltic as sailing destination. Main activities: To fulfill project objective, project will implement activities in 2 main directions – Investments in harbours and marketing activities of the network. Selection of investments activities in the harbours has been done by following the compulsory and recommended elements, identified by the Programme and which enables to develop equal standards in all project partners harbours to ensure the potential customers, that whole sailing network is equally safe, equipped and offers at least basic services – safe navigation conditions, safe mooring places, drinking water and electricity on the pier, available toilet and shower, ensured Wi-Fi and safety equipment. Depth of the fairway at the ports will be at least 2.5m. Following activities are planned – dredging works, building breakwaters, strengthening the coast, installing navigation signs and buoys, increasing number of mooring places by reconstruction piers and installing floating piers; introducing wastewater reception in the harbour and installing video surveillance systems, fencing and securing the area, building and improving service buildings for sailors. Several harbours shall expand services by offering outdoor and indoor storage during the offseason. Marketing activities are aimed to attract visitors from main target markets – Finland, Sweden, Germany and Poland, as well to ensure more cross-border sails between Latvia&Estonia. Common cruising guide ad network map will be produced, destination – East Baltic will be represented in four boat shows during three years – in Germany, Finland, Sweden and Poland. Promotion will be done also online via social media and by common internet page. Project results and achievements will be represented in the main events and conferences, which relates maritime thematic in the Baltic sea region. Harbours, where infrastructure improvements are planned and which build the core network: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/1/edit?userstoinvite=timopukk%40gmail.com&actionButton=1&mid=1br-b7PNXlnyP9Ix-0uawq5qUBlw&ll=57.464112834606%2C20.528847248046873&z=8
