Carriage trails for e-carriages: promoting nature-friendly cross-border sustainable tourism through innovative tourism products

PROJECT DURATION: 01. 09. 2018 - 31. 12. 2021

The project lasts 40 months (the duration of the project has been prolonged). 

Slovenia and Austria have shared a common history, tradition and customs for centuries. One such tradition are horses, horseback riding and coachman ship, which has been, at least in Slovenia, put on the back burner for the last several years. To successfully revitalize the coachman ship tradition and form new tourism products, the cross-border cooperation is of vital importance. Common resources and competences of involved project partners will enable the implementation on a regional as well international level. Tourism trends are shifting towards personalized sustainable products and unique experiences, thus the project involves the creation of an overall tourism product based on cultural heritage and has great value for both regions.The project will incorporate Slovenian and Austrian touristic features such as tradition, natural and cultural heritage (Natura 2000 and castles), and will present them in a new and creative way. The development of an innovative horse carriage as well as the creation of a new tourism offer, represent the heart of this project. The carriage with a built-in electrical engine and an energy storage device will lessen the horse’s burden while towing, thus enabling the creation of more versatile tourism tours of longer duration and will be intended for bigger groups. The tourism products will be adaptable to all seasons and will cater to different group sizes, thus tourists will be able to choose between different conceptual paths with various stories and experiences. During the project, all paths and carriages will be tested in order to offer a top-level tourism product, which will increase the attractiveness of the cross-border area and the number of overnight stays.

Cross-border project cooperation includes two project partners from Slovenia:

- RIS Dvorec Rakičan, lead partner and

- Univerza v Mariboru 

and three project partners from Austria:

- Tourismusverband Region Oberwart,

- Europäisches Zentrum für Erneuerbare Energie Güssing in

- EC Energie Center Lipizzanerheimat