2.1. Increasing the touristic attractiveness of the cross-border area through better utilisation of natural, cultural and historical heritage and related infrastructure

The aim of the project is to strengthen cross-border cooperation between the Municipality of Tsarevo and the Special Administration Kirklareli in the field of sustainable tourism development in Tsarevo and Kirklareli from the point of view of cultural and natural tourism by increasing their attractiveness by improving access to cultural and historical sites "Stara Melnitsa". "and" Temple "in Vsialiko neighborhood, Tsarevo and improving access to Dupnitsa cave, part of Kirklareli's natural heritage.
The main activities of the project are construction works in Tsarevo and Kirklareli. After their completion, a final meeting will be organized in Tsarevo and a happening at the Dupnitsa cave.
As a result of the project implementation it is expected to improve the socio-economic condition of the two municipalities by extending the tourist season and increasing the number of tourists visiting the region, as well as to increase their length of stay, which will increase revenues. from tourism and investment and employment opportunities.

The project is built over two major objectives: to improve capacity in the field of culture and tourism in the cross-border region through large investment in vital improvements of 2 key tourist sites, namely Fortress Rusokastro and Rock monastery St.Nicolas - Kıyıköy; to improve the public access to the common cultural-historical heritage on both sides of the border bearing common history.

The main project activities are Construction of an access road to the cultural historical heritage site Fortress Rusokastro in Bulgaria and reconstruction of an access road to the cultural historical heritage site St. Nikola Monastery, Kıyıköy, Turkey. Joint Promotional Event "Ancient Roads Leading to Nature, Culture and History" will be held in Kiyikoy.

As a result of the implementation of the project the common cultural heritage in the cross border region will be popularised and the tourist potential and knowledge of the two cultural heritage sites will be increased.

Project status: Finished

The project that established a close partnership between two small municipalities in the cross-border region Bulgaria – Turkey, whoworked together to increase and promote the tourist attractiveness of their two most important cultural heritage sites - the Medieval Fortress Rusokastro in Kameno Municipality and Rock Monastery St. Nicola in Kıyıköy.

The 18 months implementation time was marked by the COVID-19 crisis, which caused huge damages on the tourist sector worldwide. Nonetheless, the partners continued with the implementation of the activities. Kıyıköy managed to reconstruct the last 400 m road network and completed the whole connection from the fortress wall gates to the monastery providing pedestrian and vehicle access to it. Kameno Municipality built 1 082m long access road between the new recreation zone and the fortress Rusokastro. In the last months of the project the partners focused on the creation and promotion of a joint tourist product. They exchanged visits and advertisement materials when the restrictions ended.

The main objective of the project is increaisng the tourist atractiveness of the CBC area through investment in infastructure for tourist attraction.
Planned project activities include rehabilitation of tourist eco-trail with total length 15,38 km in Mineralni Bani, building of public area for recreation, tourism and events in Pehlivankoy with total area of 48 800 m2, increasing the capacity of key stakeholders and target groups of the project for development and promotion of natural and cultural tourism in bouth municipalities and organisation of final conference for formulation of further methods for increasing the tourist attractiveness of the project area.

Project status: Finished

The project has ended on 05.09.2021.

. The project activities aimed at increasing the tourist attractiveness of the CBC area through investments in infrastructure for tourist attractions in the municipalities of Mineralni Bani (Bulgaria) and Pehlivankoy (Turkey). The following results have been achieved:

•             Rehabilitation of tourist eco-trail in Mineralni Bani;

•             Building of public area for recreation, tourism and events in Pehlivankoy;

•             Seminar for building the capacity for development and promotion of natural and cultural tourism in both municipalities; and

•             Final conference on the joint strategic development and promotion of natural and cultural tourism on a local level in the CBC area.

Project website: https://attractart.eu/index.php