1. Background

1.1 Name of Initiating Entity Bodensee-Stiftung (Lake Constance Foundation) 1.2 Start Date February 2004 1.3 Proposed Name of Tourism Learning Area Untersee Region at Lake Constance 1.4 Geographical region covered see maps of region, sent by Daniela with the first PLA profile

1.5 Historical Background to this initiative

Background of the Untersee Region

The Untersee Region of Lake Constance is a traditional rural landscape. In the last twenty years tourism has risen fast and has become an important part of the regional and local economy. For this reason five years ago Tourismus Untersee e.V. was founded to coordinate tourism activities in the "Untersee " region in Germany and Switzerland. Today Tourismus Untersee e.V. can be seen as a good practice model for a small-sized tourism region. Apart from Tourismus Untersee, the Internationale Bodensee Tourismus GmbH (International Lake Constance Tourism Federation) has been created in 1999. This federation is operating as the headquarters and coordination platform for tourism in the whole Lake Constance Region comprising Germany, Switzerland and Austria.

1.6 Objectives of Provisional Learning Area

Having noted the three step process stated in the toolkit, stakeholder have reached, through discussions during the partnership-building process, the following objectives :

• To draw up a list of interested stakeholders

• To establish a working group
• To prepare a funding application
• To set up a Tourism Learning Area for the region