The LAL – Laptops and Lighthouses project is an innovative cross-border initiative funded under the Interreg South Baltic Programme 2021–2027 aimed at promoting sustainable tourism and cultural engagement across the South Baltic area. The project brings together partners from Poland, Germany, Lithuania and Sweden to enhance the visibility of coastal heritage, strengthen destination attractiveness and support regional development through digital and experiential tourism solutions. (southbaltic.eu)

At its core, LAL focuses on connecting digital narratives (‘laptops’) with real-world heritage sites (‘lighthouses’) — using technology to bring stories, history and culture alive for visitors. This includes developing interactive mobile guides, multimedia content, storytelling platforms, and visitor tools that make lesser-known cultural and natural sites more engaging and easier to explore. By blending digital innovation with traditional tourism assets, the project seeks to broaden tourism demand beyond well-established centres and encourage exploration of hidden gems.

A key objective of the project is to support rural and small-scale tourism providers by offering them tools and methods to promote their destinations more effectively online and on-site. Heritage attractions — ranging from historical buildings and museums to natural landscapes and community landmarks — are being connected through curated digital content that enhances visitors’ learning and emotional engagement. This approach helps elevate smaller communities as meaningful stops on regional tourism routes, encouraging longer stays and spreading tourism benefits more evenly across the South Baltic region.

LAL also emphasises sustainable and responsible tourism development. By directing attention to diverse cultural and natural assets and equipping them with modern interpretive tools, the project encourages low-impact visitation patterns and supports year-round tourism strategies. Digital storytelling enables visitors to access rich context about sites without heavy infrastructure, reducing the need for extensive physical interventions and helping preserve fragile environments.

The collaborative structure of LAL allows partners to share best practices, co-design tourism experiences and leverage combined networks for wider outreach. This cooperation strengthens cultural ties between communities across national borders and showcases how regional identity can be celebrated and preserved through tourism innovation.

For tourism stakeholders and planners, the project offers a replicable model demonstrating how technology and storytelling can be used to enhance visitor experience, support local businesses and create balanced tourism flows. As destinations across Europe seek to diversify their offers and better integrate heritage into sustainable tourism strategies, initiatives like LAL provide valuable insights into how digital engagement can amplify impact without compromising authenticity.

Read more about the project here:
https://southbaltic.eu/projects-and-success-stories/lal-laptops-and-lighthouses/

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