Outdoor Leader
The purpose of the Outdoor Leader project is to develop hiking paths and other outdoor destinations in the area by energizing the locals who are responsible for these destinations and by improving the popularity and functionality of the destinations themselves.
There is an increasing interest in outdoor activities in every European country. Entrepreneurs and other actors in rural areas are often interested in cooperation with international professionals and small businesses, but lack the experience and contacts needed.
The main objective of the project is to encourage the growth of local and international projects related to outdoor activities within the areas of the participating Leader groups and encourage and assist the people, organizations and entrepreneurs working with and involved in hiking trails and outdoor areas. The individuals and organizations involved in the project are primarily located in the countryside and hoping to develop the outdoor activities and tourism services in their area.
Local people and their day-to-day life are crucially connected to rural tourism. One of the top priorities of the project is enabling small local organizations, such as village associations and tourism entrepreneurs, to learn more about development possibilities, activities and services, while also creating connections on the local level. Exchanging information with actors from other areas can spark new ideas and help develop activities, services and products. The project also seeks to find existing models from elsewhere in Europe for increasing the overall quality of service production on routes and projects.
Outdoor Leader is a joint project by seven Finnish Leader groups and two Swedish Leader groups. The project focuses on all outdoor routes (hiking, cycling, kayaking, etc.), nature trails and outdoor areas in the area of Varsin Hyvä, as well as local companies, associations and municipalities.
The special development areas are the Oak Routes in the Kaarina, Lieto, Paimio and Sauvo areas, the Parmaharju area in Lieto, the Kuhankuono area and the St. Henry’s routes in Rusko and Nousiainen. The Archipelago ring routes will also be an area of focus.
A total of 47 recreation areas or route projects have been implemented in the Varsin Hyvä area over the past 20 years. This project brings all the routes and destinations together and makes them more visible.
OBJECTIVES
- Encourage both local and international growth related to the development and improvement of outdoor activities and services within the areas of the participating Leader groups
- Enable and assist the people, organizations and entrepreneurs working with and involved in hiking trails and outdoor areas
- Enable small local organizations, such as village associations and tourism entrepreneurs, to learn more about the opportunities of developing outdoor activities and services.
- Create connections between different individuals and organizations on local and international levels.
- Develop nature tourism services in a sustainable manner.
