The project was initiated, because there was the need in ERCC to strengthen collaboration with non-governmental organisations, business and academia sector and local government institutions in Lithuania. ERCC staff also needed fresh knowledge about tourism trends in Europe and to gain new skills, how to organize national and international events.
Two ERCC employees – Project Manager and Events and Placements Organiser – during their job shadowing in SubMeet Association learnt, how this small Italian organization cooperates with stakeholders and how this collaboration effects on organisation’s activity. For this reason ERCC staff not only observed the daily work of SubMeet Association, but also visited some interesting organisations such as:
• Non solo meeting. It is a PCO – Professional Congress Organiser who provides full service management for conferences and events included conference design, program development, registration, site and venue selection, booking, IT support and leisure management.
• Studioware company and project designer of “Vasteggiando” an interesting example of bottom- up approach focused at promoting sustainable tourism in Vasto and its surroundings (San Salvo and Vasto hinterland).
• Ulisse’s Riviera and meeting at Formia Municipality with the Tourism Council Member and Tourist Information Bureau. Ulisse’s Riviera is the protected area that includes the following municipalities: Formia, Gaeta, Minturno and Sperlonga. Here, our participants saw what the local authorities do in order to promote environmental education especially to young generations, eco-awareness of citizens, sustainable tourism and typical food.
• Le Dimore del Sole Association. It is a not for profit organisation whose members are owner of Bed and Breakfast, houses for holidays, historical residences and all those organisations interested to promote a good quality of tourism and hospitality culture.
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During the last day of jobs hadowing ERCC staff touched the following topics:
- How to enhance and implement a thematic cultural route taking into account a complex system of maritime routes, old roman settlement, fortifications for defence and cultural heritage;
- The Consortium and Association as centralised organisations aimed at promoting and exploiting the local tourist supply: why it is important to be part of a tourist association to promote the destination;
- The Impact of Cultural Routes on SME’s innovation and competitiveness;
- Comparing strategies of tourist development between the two Country Partners: Lithuania and Italy: creating and fostering a permanent network among public and private partners;
- Possible project ideas to be developed in partnership between the beneficiaries of the project and the hosting organisations;
- Evaluation of job shadowing.

During mobility activities in Italy participants acquired the following competences:
- Creation, promotion, and maintenance touristic cultural routes;
- Promotion of local tourism;
- Webmarketing and IT tools in tourism;
- Ecological and sustainable tourism like a part of innovative tourism;
- Communication and collaboration with stakeholders - academic community, local authorities, business and non-governmental sectors;
- Project management;
- Fundraising;
- Organization of mobilities, hosting of groups from abroad;
- Organisation of national and international events.