ENRICH-US places local communities at the centre of sustainable eco-cultural tourism development. The project is not only about exchanging knowledge or comparing governance models — it is also about testing practical solutions in real territories, together with municipalities, local stakeholders and residents.
The pilot territories are represented by associated partners and local pilot areas across Central Europe. These territories provide the local context in which ENRICH-US will test and refine governance models such as Destination Management Organisations (DMOs), Community Cooperatives (CCs) and Public–Private–Community Partnerships (PPCPs).
The Czech pilot territory is the City of Bystřice, a municipality in the Central Bohemian Region. In the project, Bystřice will support stakeholder engagement, local coordination and the testing of practical tools for sustainable tourism management, including digital visitor information solutions.
In Slovenia, the project works with Občina Komen, located in the Karst/Kras region. This territory is strongly connected to cultural landscape, heritage, rural traditions and community identity, making it highly relevant for eco-cultural tourism approaches.
In Croatia, the pilot area focuses on Ravni Kotari in northern Dalmatia. The area is known for its natural and cultural heritage, agricultural traditions and strong local identity. Through ENRICH-US, local actors will explore how tourism can support sustainable regional development while respecting the territory’s rural character.
In Poland, the pilot territories include Gmina Łącko, Gmina Łapanów and Gmina Podegrodzie in the Lesser Poland region. These municipalities represent rural and inland areas with strong community ties, landscape values and local traditions. Their involvement will help test how participatory governance and practical tourism tools can be adapted to different local contexts.
The role of associated partners is essential. They bring first-hand territorial knowledge, help mobilise local stakeholders and ensure that project activities respond to real needs on the ground. They also support the long-term relevance of the project by connecting pilot actions with local development priorities.
Across these territories, ENRICH-US will work on stakeholder mapping, governance diagnosis, co-creation of solutions and the testing of practical tools. These may include digital mapping, cultural content systems, visitor information tools and eco-tourism infrastructure, depending on the needs of each pilot area.
By working directly with pilot territories, ENRICH-US aims to ensure that its results are not only theoretically sound, but also practical, adaptable and transferable to other rural and inland areas in Central Europe.
The pilot territories will therefore serve as living laboratories for sustainable eco-cultural tourism governance — helping communities shape tourism development in a way that benefits residents, protects local heritage and supports long-term sustainability.