The EU funds for development

The crisis can also be defined as a push for some specific actions, positive changes and new possibilities. The crisis forces to reconsider planned works, to direct available funds towards implementation of municipality projects of strategical importance. Local self-government institutions also feel the after-effects of financial shake-ups - budget income is decreasing, institutions lack funds for the implementation of projects. Therefore, the role of the EU structural funds for the project-financing becomes even more important.

Palanga with 17,7 thousand residents is the biggest resort in Lithuania on the coast of the Baltic Sea, annually attract¬ing about 900 thousand tourists from Lithuania and abroad

At present, the projects in fields of public tourism infrastructure, transport, infrastructure of educational and training institutions, energy saving, improvement of operation management, etc. are being implemented in Palanga. Restoration of the Palanga Botanical Park (manor complex) and development of bicycle tourism will improve the quality of leisure for tourists and local residents. The Palanga Botanical Park, the most fascinating object of interest, is well maintained but its infrastructure is worn out and obsolete, the cultural-historic, sightseeing and natural attractiveness of this cultural heritage object is decreasing. The municipality has started implementation of the 1,045 mln. EUR project financed from the EU funds "Restoration of the historical part of Palanga Botanical Park and its conversion to the public needs" to improve public infrastructure of the historical part of the park and to adapt it for tourism needs, as well as to create a high-quality product.

In order to improve the infrastructure of bicycle tourism, Palanga, together with partners from Lithuania and Latvia is implementing the project "Improvement of Active Tourism in Border Region" financed under Latvia-Lithuania Cross Border Cooperation Programme 2007-2013. Total project budget - 1.413.604 EUR. Key element of the project is green tourism measures, which do not have negative impact on sustainable environment. In the course of implementation of this project, the tourism infrastructure is to be renewed by reconstructing a 12 km bicycle route Palanga-Šventoji, Klaipėda region and Nicetourism information centres adapting for needs of bike travellers. Moreover, the project promotes healthy lifestyle among the travellers, strengthens social, economic and cultural links between communities promoting wider familiarisation with Lithuania and Latvia, developing tourism services in adjacent to the bicycle route areas, and promoting informal dialogue between the two countries. The new bicycle route will help Lithuania and Latvia to take their place on the EuroVelo 10 map, to attract new tourist markets via increased accessibility, to organize new tourism events with professional and amateur cyclists, making the region more competitive and attractive both for local inhabitants and tourists.