Experience Lithuanian Countryside: Rural Tourism Association

1. November 2009 Countryside tourism association of Lithuania Lithuanian countryside tourism association experience

2. Lithuania is one of the Baltic states in the very centre of Europe . The Territory of Lithuanian is 65200 square km To the north it borders on the Republic of Latvia to the east and south it borders on Belarus, to the southwest - on Poland and Russia (Kaliningrad). Population 3482300 

3. There are 722 rivers of 10 kilometres and longer in Lithuania. 21 of them are more than 100 kilometres long. • There are over 3 thousand lakes in Lithuania, they take up 1.5 per cent of Lithuania's territory. • Woodlands cover 31,7 % per cent of Lithuania's territory. • Protected territories occupies 12 % of Lithuania territory Nature of our country

4. Lithuanian countryside

5. Rural tourism started in 1997. There were only 17 homesteads. Today we have near600 homesteads; • Rural tourism is considered as alternative activity in the countryside; Rural tourism in Lithuania

6. Countryside tourism association of Lithuania It’s an independent non-profit organization uniting people of the Republic of Lithuania involved in rural tourism. Association was established for meeting and implementing common needs and tasks of its members.  Association office - K.Donelaicio st. 2 - 201, Kaunas, Lithuania. Website www.atostogoskaime.ltwww.countryside.lt e-mail: kaimas@zur.lt

7. Members of the association Total number of farmsteads - 392 • Number of farmsteads in 4 ethnographical regions: • Aukštaitija - 197 • Žemaitija - 91 • Dzūkija - 85 • Suvalkija - 19 Number of farmsteads available throughout the year - 308

8. Association activities • Consulting; • Training; • Publications; • Cooperation with state and public authorities; • Marketing

9. Association has published: • Countryside tourism • Countryside tourism. ABC • Countryside tourism. Legislation • Catalogue Lietuva. Atostogos kaime (Lithuania. Countryside holidays) • Manages the web site: • www.atostogoskaime.ltwww.countryside.lt

10. Representative catalogue published annually; • Comes out in four languages:Lithuanian, English, German, Russian • Listing every member of countryside tourism association; • Distributed through tourism information centers, in travel fairs, embassies, association it self;

15. Stork is the sign of quality. It shows the level of the services, which is provided in the homestead. • Landmark, which shows the homestead of rural tourism: Stork – The quality brand of Lithuanian countryside tourism association

16. All the homesteadsof the association members are ranked into 5 quality categories, given them from one to five storks, accordingly to the farmstead level. Rankof the homesteads

17. Quality of the homesteads

18. Stork homestead -Very basic conditions of accommodation and facilities Very few entertainment possibilities Storks homestead - Minimally equipped countryside homestead or living in the dwelling house with its owners. Minimal offer of the facilities and entertainment Storks homestead - Countryside homestead of the average comfort. Most rooms have the facilities. A variety of entertainment possibilities offered. Mostly self catering. Storks homestead - Comfortable countryside homestead for rest and various events. Good quality of accommodation, catering, services and a wide range of entertainment possibilities Storks homestead - Exclusive countryside homestead. Well managed facilities. Excellent service. Catering provided. A very wide range of entertainment possibilities.

24. Statistics

25. Conception of the rural tourism in Lithuania (1997-2008)

26. Traditional Lithuanian homesteads

28. Interior of the homesteads

30. www.countryside.lt kaimas@zur.lt Looking forward to seeing you in Lithuania!