Cross border cooperation –promoter of tourism development

Development of cross border regions is serious problem for existing EU countries
therefore special financial support instruments for cross border development exists. In
1994 EU established Cross Border Co-operation (CBC) programme between Central
and Eastern Europe and Member States of the European Community. The main
objectives of CBC are to increase economic and social conditions and co-operation
networks in the border regions. One of the seven most important fields of cross border
cooperation is tourism sector. Tourism development is important component of
regional economic development in EU. Tourism development was included first time
in the Mastricht agreement which outlined that tourism sector is included in EU
policies (Varika, 1998).

Characterising of cross border regions

The crucial problem is employment in border regions exactly in rural local
municipalities, which are located on border regions, far away from centres. It is
connected with reduction of employees in agriculture sector. Nowadays we are
speaking about rural economic diversification in the countryside because is necessary
to create new jobs and to manage new thinking about future development. One of the
priority sector which is defined as rural development priority (it is related to cross
border regions too) is tourism in separate programmes and plans.

Cross border regions has restrictions of development contrary to opportunities. The
statistical data shows that weaknesses are much more in border regions as strengthens.
Cross border regions are far away from economical centres, cities.

Table 1. Cross border district comparison by main statistical indicators in Latvia

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