Atlantic Geoparks Project
The main objective of the Atlantic Geoparks Project is to promote and disseminate the geological and cultural heritage of the Atlantic Geoparks as a basis for an economic development, culture and sustainable tourism strategy.
Atlantic Geoparks project shall have a significant influence on the increase in the number of tourists and visitors to the Geoparks; it will boost the economic activity by creating new businesses and increasing the number of jobs in the service sector; finally, the project will influence regional policies by sensitizing public authorities about the need to legislate and manage the geological areas under both, economic and environmental sustainable criteria supported by European policies and the recommendations of UNESCO.
The project will allow the Atlantic Geoparks to have a common identity and an internationally recognized image. Moreover, the creation of a European Atlantic Geotourism Route will be clearly committed to its growth and will therefore actively work for the incorporation of new geological areas. Currently, there is no Geopark recognized by UNESCO on the French Atlantic coast, so the project will help one French natural area to obtain this distinction, as well as new ones in Portugal and in Spain.
In summary, the project will be a new opportunity for territorial development linked to the Geotourism and put in value the Atlantic Geoparks as a means of sustainable development, conservation and geodiversity across the Atlantic Area.
This project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund through the Interreg Atlantic Area Programme.