Short introduction to the INTERFACE PLUS project

Transcription

1 The Project is part-financed by the European Union (ERDF) INTERFACE PLUS Port & Ferry Operator Workshop 24 March 2011 Darłowo, Poland Short introduction to the INTERFACE PLUS project Jens Masuch Phone:

2 Contents Background: The INTERFACE initiative Objectives and planned measures for upgrading the ferry connections between Kołobrzeg / Darłowo / Ustka and Nexø Partners and associates Our vision for

3 The INTERFACE initiative (1) Established within the framework of the South Baltic Cross-border Co-operation Programme Focus: Revitalising ferry services for passengers as convenient way of travelling across borders in the South Baltic Area Consisting of two parts INTERFACE ( parent project ) , involving 21 institutions around 4 axes INTERFACE PLUS ( upgrade ) , involving further 20 institutions around three further ferry connections 3

4 The INTERFACE initiative (2) 5 Passenger transport connections: Nexø Kołobrzeg / Darłowo / Ustka Rostock Gedser - Nykøbing Rostock Trelleborg Karlskrona Gdynia Gdynia Baltijsk (Kaliningrad) 4

5 Starting points Current situation: Connections exist since ~10 years Passenger and bicycle transportation only, no transportation of cars / cargo Seasonal operation (April Sept / July Aug) Asymmetric services and passenger flows: Only one round trip a day with start / end in Poland > Mainly summer tourists traveling from Poland to Bornholm and back to Poland within a day Stagnating passenger volume > all 3 routes together: around passengers / year 5

6 Project objectives Overall objective: Upgrading the ferry connections between Bornholm and northern Poland in order to increase the flows of passengers in both directions More specifically (with reference to a pre-study): Promoting the existing passenger services in order to create additional passenger flows in the short term Goal: lifting up the volume from currently to passengers / year until 2013 Exploring the possibilities and making first steps for establishing a combined car / passenger /cargo ferry in the medium term (= after 2013) 6

7 Approach Pro-active support of the ferry operators through a set of hard and soft measures: Market surveys Improvement of terminal infrastructure / investments Passenger information and promotion campaigns Networking and lobbying activities 7

8 Partners and Associates (1) Partners that are financing and implementing the activities: Municipality of Darłowo / PL Municipality of Ustka / PL Nexø Seaport / DK (Municipality / Port of Kołobrzeg / PL) > Kołobrzeg is not (yet) a formal partner, but invited to and considered in the project activities 8

9 Partners and Associates (2) 9 Associated Organisations contributing with their experience and expertise to the implementation of the measures: Institution in Kołobrzeg: Port Authority Kołobrzeg Institutions supporting activities around Nexø: Regional Municipality of Bornholm Business Centre Bornholm Destination Bornholm Institutions supporting activities around Ustka/Darłowo: Local Tourist Association Ustka, Słupsk County, City of Słupsk, Pomeranian Tourist Board Pomeranian Regional Development Agency Current ferry operators: Żegluga Gdańska Kołobrzega Żegluga Pasażerska

10 Market surveys Point of departure: Available market data appears too unspecific for > designing targeted promotional campaigns > inducing commercial activities / investments by (private) ferry operators Steps / activities: Determining the needs of further market research in dialogue with (potential) ferry operators Conducting further studies that should help and encourage ferry operators to upgrade and improve their operations be a basis for (additional) promotional activities that enhance the passenger volumes 10

11 Terminal infrastructure Points of departure: Terminals in Nexø, Darłowo, Ustka have been identified as obstacles for the further development of the connections low standards of infrastructure and services building stock is partly ruinous and repairs necessary Steps / activities: Construction of new terminals in Darłowo and Ustka Renovation of the existing terminal in Nexø > New facilities to be operational for the seasons 2012/13 > Design will take up lessons from INTERFACE and abroad > may allow accommodating a car ferry later on 11

12 Marketing and promotion Points of departure: > Few targeted promotion activities in collaboration of local and regional tourism associations / ferry operators > Only few tourist packages for specific target groups offered Activities: Designing and implementing promotional campaigns in different languages for informing potential passengers Development of tourist packages in cooperation with local and regional tourist offices / tourism associations Promotional events around the ferry services 12

13 Networking and lobbying Points of departure: > Few (business) relations between the towns yet that could generate further traffic (e.g. tourist packages creating more flows of day tourists, cargo flows between companies) > No partnerships / lobby groups taking care of the links on both sides and in a coordinated way across borders Activities: Business-to-business laisioning events in cooperation with local and regional business organisations Creating maritime clusters / lobby groups at two levels at local level (Nexø, Ustka, Darłowo) at international level (Bornholm / Northern Poland) > Involving e.g. tourism sector, local businesses, politicians > Joint lobbying and continuous dialogue with operators 13

14 Vision for 2013 (1) The project will have created New / upgraded terminals in Nexø, Ustka and Darłowo with better services / comfort for passengers More extensive promotion campaigns that promote the services and destinations on both sides and with wider geographic scope (Tricity?) Attractive one-day / multi-day tourist packages that are offered to tourists both in Denmark and Poland Cross-sectoral lobby groups that support the ferry services and ensure continued dialogue and interaction across borders 14

15 Vision for 2013 (2) What we want to have induced on the operators side: More frequent passenger connections are offered and the annual operation period is longer Faster ferries are in service and do two round trips per day, allowing convenient day trips from both sides An operator is encouraged through the increased passenger flows and interaction between the towns to concretely preparing a car ferry service 15

16 Concluding remarks The goals are ambitious Reaching them is possible only based on cooperation between municipalities / ports with the ferry operators Intensive and continuous dialogue and collaboration may improve the measures and enhance effects The meeting should start of this process and a successful cooperation for mutual benefit We want to seek to make the most of market potential, but we cannot change the power of the transport market 16

17 Thank you very much for your attention! 17