Leonardo Partnership Project

Programme for Accreditation of Rural Tourism – Rural Tourism International

In 2009, we were successfully awarded funding by Leonardo da Vinci to lead a European Partnership project which is focused on the accreditation of a rural tourism ‘train the trainer’ programme. This Partnership Project includes members from across the EU with partners from the Netherlands, Bulgaria, Germany, Romania and two partners from Ireland. The primary aim of this project is the 'Accreditation of Rural Tourism International Training Network (RTITN) rural tourism ‘train the trainer’ programme in each of the partner countries to meet national standards and to achieve international recognition'.

Within this project the partners represent training institutions, agricultural colleges, ecotourism, rural development and the guesthouse accommodation sector. This project is scheduled to be delivered over two years until July 2011 and the plan is to have the first ‘train the trainer’ programme with accreditation launched in Athlone Institute of Technology in May 2010.

On the 1st of October 2009, this Leonardo Partnership project commenced with the first of a two day meeting, held in a local rural tourism visitor attraction; Bear Essentials , near Bawnboy, County Cavan. One of our main objectives of this meeting was to become familiar with the partners, their organisations and with the project which we will deliver over the next two years. The second day of the meeting was held in: A Healthy Choice Spa and Clinic Castleblayney, Co Monaghan.

Further information about this project will be available from this site in the coming months.