Promotion of National and Cultural Heritage
via Eco/ Pro- Poor Tourism

Eco tourism is one of the fastest growing sectors of the world-wide tourism industry. Member countries have a fantastic opportunity to benefit by the enhanced promotion of their unspoiled natural heritage. Using the Pro-Poor Tourism model, 4x4x4 Balkan Bridges helps rural communities to structure themselves to take advantage of this trend. Sustainable development is the key factor in our work.
Pro Poor Tourism (PPT) is tourism that results in increased benefits for poor people. PPT is not a specific product or niche sector but an approach to tourism development and management. Links with many different types of the 'poor and pure' need to be considered: staff; neighbouring communities; producers of food, fuel and other suppliers; operators of micro-tourism businesses; craft makers; other users of tourism infrastructure (roads) and resources (water).
4x4x4 Balkan Bridges also uses other strategies to enhance the Natural and Cultural heritage:

• Awareness raising, capacity building, training, all of which empowers ordinary people;
• Mechanisms to resolve competing use of natural resources;
• Improving infrastructure and access to local services – needed for tourism but also vital for residents;
• Reduction of negative impacts – the 'footprints' left by tourists – so as to maintain the environment for residents and future tourists alike.