Study tour "Ecological tourism and education in the national parks of Austria and Slovenia", October 19-28, 2014

Representatives of the Akimat of Eastern Kazakhstan, NGO EcoAltai, Western Altai Nature Reserve, Katon-Karagay National Park and two sanatoria Rachmanovske Kluchi and Maralenok had a chance to visit four national parks in Austria and Slovenia in order to learn more about rural and ecological tourism in these areas. The study tour was prepared and led by NGO Machaon International from Slovakia and Gesäuse National Park from Austria as part of the project "Golden Altai – wealth for local development", supported by the European Union. During 10 days the participants visited national parks of Donauauen, Neusiedler See - Seewinkel, Gasäuse and Triglav and got acquainted with the ways tourism is managed as well as co-operation between local stakeholders involved in rural development and tourism is facilitated in these protected areas.

All attendees of the study tour unanimously appreciated the unique and very effective partner network and its practices developed in the Gesäuse National Park. Alongside a central visitor centre of the park run in co-operation with local tourism board in Admont (main village) there are small information points at each park partner’s premises where a visitor can acquire relevant information not only about the national park area, but also learn about services offered by other park partners. It was impressive to observe how the partnership with the national park was proudly acknowledged and how the partners co-operate among themselves and even invest extra resources in capacity building and mutual co-operation. 

During the study tour, there were opportunities to see various ecotourism and environmental education facilities such as nature discovery areas and trails, visitor centres and museums. Of particular interest was an eco-farm in the Gesäuse area linking local food production with agrotourism (farm accommodation for tourists). National parks Donauauen and Neusiedler See - Seewinkel shared their specific experience in bird-watching tours. In addition to the alluring alpine beauty of the Julian Alps, the Triglav National Park provided a good insight into the effective spatial planning which includes input and approval of various stakeholders and authorities. The experience can serve a useful basis for a new approach to development planning applied in East Kazakhstan.

For every participant, the study tour was full of inspiration for further work. Some new notions and visions appeared how ecotourism can be developed in pilot areas in the Altai Mountains and especially how important it is to integrate various stakeholders and to develop mutual co-operation between authorities, small businesses and protected area administrations in pursuing a common goal in tourism development from the start on. Each participant developed a personal plan for introducing the most interesting ideas in own work. Some innovative activities, based on the ideas from the study tour, will be supported in the framework of the project "Golden Altai – wealth for local development".