SMARTRURAL is a project which main goal is to intelligently look at the process of creating diverse tourism products in rural areas. It also addresses the issues of sustainable and innovative management of tourism space and tourist facilities.

The project’s assumption is the development and implementation of an innovative curriculum in rural tourism based on innovative methods and tools. The program is addressed to students, but also people involved in rural tourism or local communities. It is important to build an open training platform that will support the development of rural areas.

The SMARTRURAL team consists of 7 universities dynamically involved in tourism development activities in 7 EU countries (Lithuania, Turkey, Spain, Slovenia, Italy, Czech Republic, Poland). At the European level more than 20 000 people will be informed about the project based on an effective and joint dissemination strategy followed by all participating countries. By identifying and engaging relevant stakeholders in SMARTRURAL project it will assist in receiving important feedback and input.

What we have done so far:

• In the SMARTRURAL project, we share experience and knowledge from various specialties so that the developed program covers a wide range of topics;
• We have been able to gather information on similar courses conducted in our countries and in Europe. On this basis, we have assessed what is missing and what kind of innovative knowledge we can pass on to our students and persons dealing with rural tourism;
• We have developed initial assumptions for the pilot curriculum; We meet regularly in real and virtual environments. What we will do in the near future: Modules for specific thematic areas will be developed; We will prepare a curriculum for the pilot course;
• We will test the course program among the trainers during workshops; We will implement the program in pilot units, village space with a tourist function and tourist enterprises; We will make the course available on the internet platform.

 

What we will do in the near future:

• Modules for specific thematic areas will be developed;
• We will prepare a curriculum for the pilot course;
• We will test the course program among the trainers during workshops;
• We will implement the program in pilot units, village space with a tourist function and tourist enterprises;
• We will make the course available on the internet platform.