Projeto Rede de Turismo Solidário e Sustentável São Vicente

Its contents were the sole responsability of the project and did not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union. The project “Promotion Network of Solidarity and Inclusive Tourism, Sustainable Development and Territorial Enhancement in São Vicente Island, Cape Verde” was implemented between 2016 and 2019 by the Association “Amigos da Natureza” (AAN) in partnership with the Centre for Rur

al Studies and International Agriculture (CERAI) and the Municipality of São Vicente (CMSV). The project was approved under the Thematic Programme for Civil Society Organizations and Local Authorities “Preservation and Improvement of Social Heritage, Cultural and Environmental as a diversification and development factor of a sustainable and solidarity tourism in Cape Verde” and aims at valorizing and strengthening the practices of solidarity and community-based tourism in remote areas of São Vicente Island. In its implementation, the project has the support of other associated entities, namely, the Business Support and Promotion Institute- Pro Empresa (former ADEI), the Institute of Economical and Entrepreneurial Sciences (Instituto Superior de Ciências Económicas e Empresarias - ISCEE), the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment- Protected Area of São Vicente and Santa Luzia Programme, and the rural and community associations of 8 areas of São Vicente: Associação Amigos de Calhau, Associação de Turismo Comunitário de Ribeira Bote, Associação Amigos de Lameirão, Associação de Criadores de Curral Tortolho, Associação Comunitária de Ribeira de Vinha, Associação Agropecuária de Calhau e Madeiral, Associação Comunitária de Desenvolvimento de São Pedro, Associação de Pescadores de Salamansa. The project, implemented between 1st February 2016- 30 September 2019), was granted by the European Union (under the EuropeAid program / 136-825 / DD / ACT / CV to Cape Verde for an amount of € 476,557.99) and co-financed by the Municipality of São Vicente and the PROEMPRESA (former ADEI)

GENERAL OBJECTIVES

1. Improve the capacity of the CSO (Civil Society Organizations) of São Vicente and the participation in the local development process and management of the territorial, social and environmental heritage.

2. Promote sustainable and diversified tourism, environmentally friendly, socially inclusive and job-creating in remote areas of São Vicente. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

Enhance and strengthen the solidarity and community-based tourism practices of remotes areas of the island of São Vicente, as well as enhance and strengthen the skills and participation of small local associations to the local tourism management and to the sustainable development of the territory as an instrument to improve life conditions, to encourage the local economy and to maintain the social, cultural and environmental heritage of the island of São Vicente. Participatory governance
Improve the technical capacities of the civil society organizations to engage, manage and participate in the process of sustainable development of the territory and in the heritage and touristic offer management of the island of São Vicente.

2. Community based, inclusive and income-generating tourism
Improve the capacity of rural and isolated communities of the Island to generate employment and income through tourism, preserving the environment and local traditions and diversifying the offer of the Island.

3. Awareness, education and research
Publicize and disseminate the project at national/ international level and investigate the associated themess at academic level. MAIN ACTIVITIES IMPLEMENTED

- Training and technical assistance for rural and community associations;

- Creation and dinamization of a municipal network for the promotion of local development and sustainable tourism;

- Creation and dinamization of a municipal exhibition and promotion center of the local territory and sustainable tourism;

- Design and promotion of Routes of Rural / Community and Solidarity Tourism (includes strengthening family rural businesses);

- Rehabilitation and dissemination of Ecological Pedestrians Paths - PEPs;

- Rehabilitation of public spaces in the involved communities;

- Training in Best Practices of Agro-Food Processing and Preservation, oriented to local producers;

- Training of Community Touristic Guides;

- Project promotion campaigns in the involved communities;

- Creation and promotion of a website about the project and its touristic products;

- Preparation, editing and publishing of an online and printed guide to promote sustainable tourism in São Vicente;