The legacy of the First World War can still be seen today in the landscapes of the 2 Seas area from Flanders to Aisne passing through the Somme and Nord-Pas de Calais. It is also present in the mindset of the people of Britain and the Commonwealth, who come as “remembrance tourists” to visit and discover the landscapes and stories of the Great War.The GREAT WAR project gathers together 15 partners and aims to develop a quality and innovative tourist offer, centered on the remembrance of the First World War and more immediately, the commemorations of the Great War planned between 2014 and 2018. The project will also contribute to local economic growth and will have a particular focus on the younger generations by developing innovative methods of engaging with these people by using educational toolkits, interpretation resources, workshops, lectures and cultural events. Expected Results: What are the key results of the project?Meetings and workshops- six partner meetings for activity 1 and 2- one event in 2013- one joint touring exhibition copied in several sets so as to distribute them to different sites- six eductours for at least 300 tourist professionals and businesses- Permanent and temporary exhibitions with artefacts, interactive tools and panelsCommon resources/tools developed- Joint terms of reference for a high profile survey to explore the approach to be adopted by WW1 sites- one common survey for all partners based on Westtoer’s experience- one joint programme of training- Professional tool kits- In house recommendations resulting from the research in the archives, and presentation of some of this on-line- one quality label and joint agreement on quality criteriaNew visitor and educational outreach resources- one joint document made of a map and a joint programme of WW1-related events that will be updated and published every year (this document will be divided into 3 areas so as to be handy for visitors)- three common tool kits targeted to three different generations of young people that can be partially fed with local inputs. They will be reproduced at a high level so as to be lent and disseminated all over the two Seas region- one educational colloquium in West Flanders in 2012- Specific trainings for education officers- one trade tour per year- Virtual comics application- Pedestrian, cyclist and car routes linking up WW1 sites- one marketing campaignAre all partners and territories benefitting from the results?The target beneficiaries are the WW1 Heritage sites and their staff, tourist agencies and professionals who will benefit from the enhanced training and sharing of good practice as well as site investment. School children and young people will immediately benefit from the educational resources developed through the project.The project ultimately aims at attracting local communities and tourists to WW1 sites and raising the awareness about WW1 amongst tourists and visitors from the 2 Seas area and beyond. Final beneficiaries being local communities through enhanced awareness and associated economic development, private tourism businesses and tour operators as well as journalists and academics and young people.What are the effects / outcomes for the territories involved?The Great war project aims at enhancing WW1 heritage with an offer designed to enhance memory tourism in the partner countries involved, using as a resource the social and cultural legacy of WW1 through cross-border co-operation generating economic returns across the 2 Seas area.The project will develop a network of stakeholders having complimentary knowledge about WW1 and link up and coordinate WW1 local sites and museums, programmes and resources, thus improving accessibility of heritage and heritage sites to tourists and visitors. The project will enhance economic development through a common WW1 tourist vision across the 2 Seas area.The project will contribute to public awareness of the First World War and promote the concept of a common war past in the 2 Seas region. In so doing it will support local economies through the creation of jobs and the introduction of new products related to the project engaging local communities in telling the histories of WW1 and develop greater understanding of the conflict, especially amongst schoolchildren.