About the DefenceArch project

The overall objective of DefenceArch – Footprints of the Defence in Archipelago project is to develop existing, though almost untapped defence historical resources of the Gålö seal farm (SWE), the Bomarsund fortress (ÅL), the southern cape of Örö (FIN) and Korpoström (FIN) into appealing and sustainable destinations by increasing the awareness and experience value of the visitors.

Main objective is shared into sub-objectives:

  1. The experience value will be improved by creating story-rich and informative digital content to illustrate the destinations.
  2. The development will be supported by resolving shortages in infrastructure, supply chain and overall attraction management.
  3. The aspects of cultural, ecological, economic and social sustainability in insular tourism are analyzed, and embedded in the actions and outputs of the project in order to increase the understanding of sustainability among visitors, locals, companies, tourism developers and public actors.

The outputs will be:

  • Digital outputs to stimulate visits, to help to plan the trip and to enrich the experience (e.g. story-rich videos, podcasts, pictures, mobile tourist guide).
  • Improved accessibility in the destinations after designing a more seamless service chain covering pre-visit, on-site visit and post-visit (e.g. by removing obstacles in physical accessibility, improving signs, routes and information of the services). Two totally new attractions (Gålö and southern cape of Örö) will be opened for public after renovating the rundown buildings and constructions.
  • Environmentally sustainable solutions are developed in the pilot destinations. Aspects of cultural and environmental sustainability are also embedded in the digital outputs.
  • Cross-border tour suggestions for chosen target groups are created and marketed.
  • Multidisciplinary development methods are developed (workshops and cross audits of the pilot destinations involve partners, experts, local entrepreneurs, education and research organizations, authorities, tourism organisations)
  • Virtual publication of the best practices is summarized in order to exploit the results of the project.

In the end of the project the four destinations will form a themed tourism attraction highlighting the history especially from the defense point of view. From domestic and international tourists’ point of view, diversity of the offerings is increased and experience value as well as accessibility to and between the destinations enhanced. From project partners, entrepreneurs, heritage associations’ point of view grown awareness and developed supply have increased the number of visits, length of stay and tourism expenditure revitalizing business opportunities.

DefenceArch project started in September 2016 and will end in February 2019. It is co-funded by Interreg Central Baltic Programme. The other co-funders are Council of Southwest Finland, Ålands Landskapsregering, Svenska Kulturfondet and Konstsamfundet.