2.2. Increasing the cross-border tourism potential by developing common destinations

Overall project objective is promotion of cultural heritage of the cross border region through development of joint tourism destination  Burgas – Edirne.

Project activities include elaboration of a study of the tourists’ demand and needs of information in the field of tourist services and products and research of good practices and tourist packages in the Cross –border region. In the two partnering countries “Ethno Happenings” will be organized. Project activities also include “Travelling Exhibitions” and organization of “Sustainable Tourism FAIR” in Burgas.  A multi-language platform “Cross-border Heritage Center” will be elaborated.

As a result of the project   a destination with significant tourism potential will be developed, aiming to overcome the economic diversification of the cross-border region through the use of innovative, advanced tools and techniques to reach new market segments.

Project status: Finished

The project partners have implemented the activities according to the schedule.

Tourism cooperation between Burgas city and Edirne is also inevitable in terms of two cities. This project actually came as a surprise as one of the opportunities that opened the door of this collaboration. Such projects are an invaluable source of resources and cooperation for non-governmental organizations on both sides of the border.

Project partners have used the project funds for 15 months in line with program principles, project objectives and activities. As project teams, we increased our knowledge and experience. As project outputs we invested in the tourist destination of the Edirne-Burgas region and we added a total of 30 tourist sites to the foreground, including unknown spots as well known from tourist destination points in the two regions. We included Kırklareli in the project as part of the program. We took great care to include Tourist service providers - business owners, eco-tour operators, cultural tour operators, travel agencies, public agencies and organizations, municipalities, NGOs, tourism department students, tourism offices, local producers and tourists.                      

We think that the results of our project will motivate the tourism of the region from the point of directing the 3rd country tourists come to Burgas and Edirne. Especially interesting and detailed information about the tourist sites, common destinations we have developed, web page, catalogs, maps and other products will continue to cooperate in the field of sustainable tourism.

Project website: www.bgtrdestinations.eu

Materials from the project:

The promotional materials (poster and information board) are available HERE.

The project leaflet is available HERE.

Project products:

The Tourist map is available HERE.

Study of the tourists demand and needs of information in the field of tourist services and products is available HERE.

The Research "Good practices and tourist packages in the Cross – border region” (in English, Bulgarian and Turkish language) is available HERE.

The Catalogue of 30 Tourist Sites is available HERE.

The Presentations from the events are available HERE.

Videos and 3D/360 degrees photos of cultural and historical sites in the cross-border region are available on the website of the project at the following link: http://www.bgtrdestinations.eu/web/index.php?r=experience%2Fculturals.

The aim of the project is to create preconditions for increasing the sustainability of cross-border tourism by developing alternative tourist routes. Thus, the aim is to diversify the offered tourist services, to attract tourists with wider interests in different areas of nature, history and culture and to extend the tourist season.
Project activities include preparation of an analysis of the potential for alternative tourism in the two cross-border regions, acquaintance of representatives of the target groups with potential sites and preparation of Guidelines for development of alternative types of tourism in the regions of Burgas and Keshan; training of the representatives of the target groups for acquiring capacity and skills for development of alternative tourist routes; development of sample routes, including the most promising sites for alternative tourism in both regions; promoting the results of the project among local and state administration, NGOs, branch organizations in order to plan their future activities.
As a result of the project activities, analyzes of the potential for alternative forms of tourism and Guidelines including the most promising sites in the regions will be developed and promoted. 4 sample routes will be created, which will be offered on the tourist market and will be the basis, together with the Guidelines, for the development of new tourist services. New business partnerships will be established between companies in the tourism sector on both sides of the border. Prerequisites will be created for diversification of tourist services and extension of the season.

Project status: Finished

The Project partners – the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Burgas and Keshan for the second time successfully implement a project aimed at strengthening mutual relations between the tourism businesses on both sides of the border, building sustainable partnerships and improving the conditions for the development of joint tourist destinations. Through the implementation of the project activities, tourism companies on both sides of the border got acquainted with the opportunities for alternative forms of tourism in both regions. They participated in the preparation and implementation of tourist routes and destinations and attraction of people interested in unpopular opportunities for recreation and entertainment such as lovers of historical sites, natural phenomena, culinary temptations, ornithology, water sports, spa and wellness treatments, picturesque villages, traditions and life of the local population.

As a result of the joint partners’ activities it is expected that they will have an impact on the development of sustainable cross border tourism, an increase in attendance, extension of the tourist season, creation of new jobs, deepening of contacts between companies, institutions and the local population from the two border regions are expected. For the purposes of the project activities, analyses have been prepared by the two partner organizations for the conditions and opportunities that exist for the development and implementation of different types of alternative tourism. The natural characteristics of the regions, the infrastructure, the existing practices and the presence of traditions and experience in offering alternative tourist services and attractions are considered.

The Guidelines for the development of tourist destinations, prepared under the project, which include alternative forms of tourism, were used as a basis for the trainings conducted under the project for tour operators and other stakeholders. Also two sample tourist routes have been developed by each of the partners to serve the travel agencies to enrich their programs and attract new customers.

The main result of the activities is the expansion of the partnership between all stakeholders involved in the project, which contributes to the socio-economic stabilization of the region through the development of sustainable cross-border tourism. D