Sustainable water tourism in the unique Lower Oder Valley

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Water tourism in the Lower Oder Valley becomes sustainable: The national park town of Schwedt/Oder, the Lower Odertal National Park and the Polish association of landscape conservation parks of the West Pomerania Voivodeship initiate a joint innovative German-Polish water tourism project. The partners face the challenge of reaching new target groups by improving the cross-border experience of the Lower Odertal natural area and thus strengthening the region through value creation. The project “Sustainable water tourism in the unique Lower Odertal” is linked to the partners’ previous successful German-Polish projects. The aim is to continue the cross-border sustainable tourism development through new water tourism infrastructure and joint marketing. A network of natural rest areas along the waterways, a solar raft, extended offers in the water tourism centre Schwedt/Oder, observation platforms, trilingual information boards, multimedia offers and publications, these are essential building blocks. With the water hikers a new target group is addressed. Expected new economic impulses make the residents on both sides of the Oder stronger than previously partners and connect them with the visitors. The awareness of the “Lower Odertal” is increased by innovative marketing measures. A series of contributions for German and Polish travel magazines is planned as well as suitable measures for the large areas and tourist source markets Berlin and Szczecin. In particular, it is important to attract the ever-increasing target group of those interested in nature with corresponding offers. Nature lovers increasingly see unique nature experiences without borders as an alternative to tourist conurbations and appreciate the uniqueness of the natural area through their visit. Of particular importance are offers for children and young people in the context of experience-oriented environmental education, which lays a foundation for ecologically meaningful action by future generations. The new project will increase stakeholders’ awareness of a common natural and cultural heritage, promote mutual curiosity and acceptance, and increase the willingness to develop and implement joint activities. For this purpose, new forms of communication and pathways are used, e.g. through the involvement of the local population on both sides of the Oder, e.g. in workshops for regional German and Polish teachers and nature guides. The project involves new partners such as the tourism association “National Park Unteres Odertal” as consultants as well as cities and municipalities on both sides of the Oder, which in particular accompany the development of natural space and resources-friendly water tourism infrastructure. The aim is to make the unique German-Polish natural world along the river accessible to the wider public in an interesting and sustainable way, while preserving its character and protected property. In order to preserve and protect the natural space unit “Unteres Odertal” with lowland stream, natural river meadows, adjoining order slopes and glacial hilly landscape with natural forests and species-rich meadows, as well as valued by sustainable, resource-friendly tourism development, cross-border cooperation is the necessary prerequisite. The landscape covers approximately 50.000 ha from the gates of Szczecin to the south of the border crossing Hohenwutzen/Osinów Dolny.

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