IMPACT OF SUSTAINABLE TOURISM

ON THE DEVELOPMENT

OF YOUNG GENERATIONS OF EUROPE

This is the topic of international youth exchange, which took place on February 16-22, 2009 as part of the Youth in Action Program. The mobility organized by our Association was attended by students from Poland, Germany, and France. The main goal of the project was to deepen the sense of solidarity, popularize other cultures and traditions, help in understanding one's identity in today's and future Europe, spreading tolerance among young people as well as understanding the role of sustainable tourism in the development of young generations of Europe.

Young people from Germany and France immediately joined the implementation of the integration program prepared as part of the project. In addition to educational, cultural, and sporting activities, they took part in trips to the most attractive cities of Lesser Poland. They had the opportunity to go Zakopane and visit Wawel and the Old Town in Krakow. An excellent way to understand cultural differences were joint thematic workshops, presentation of national cultures and exchange of observations and views. Thanks to working in mixed groups, they learned tolerance, openness, and understanding of what is new and unknown.