2.3. Increasing networking for development of sustainable tourism through cross-border cooperation initiatives

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Project summary:	The overall project objective is to support the capacity of the cultural organizations to operate at cross border level and to improve the access to the Bulgarian and Turkish cultural traditions and customs in the region. The project activities include a case study of traditions and customs as well as the natural and cultural historical heritage in the border areas: Dimitrovgrad, Bulgaria and Merich, Turkey. The project study will explore the similarities in the customs and traditions of the two neighbouring nationalities – the Bulgarian and the Turkish. Within 15 months, the three project partners will present main features of their national identity. A reproduction of three common customs for Bulgaria and Turkey common traditions and customs for Bulgaria and Turkey in will be organized and recreated. A culinary exhibition and tasting of traditional regional foods under the motto "The Taste of Thrace" is planned to be conducted in the village of Kadidondurma, Turkey. A booklet with a brief description of customs and recipes will be issued. The project implementation will promote the circulation of cultural traditions and customs across borders and will extend their reach to larger audiences, including community organisations and institutions involved in development of civil society and promotion of education, culture and sports, youth organizations, residents and visitors of the cross border area. Project status: Finished The project partners have implemented the activities according to the schedule. The project arose as a natural intercultural bridge connecting the communities of two different countries due to the proximity of the municipalities of Dimitrovgrad and Meric. As part of the cross-border territory, Bulgaria and Turkey have their own traditions and customs, which jealously guard and pass on to future generations to preserve their national identity. Some of them, however, are quite similar. They were the subject of the project study. The aim was to establish the similarities in the traditions and customs of the two nations, which shows that despite the differences, we are actually all the same. Also, to develop and maintain close relationships, to increase the tourism potential by exploring, discovering and promoting the cultural heritage in the cross-border region - comparison, exchange of practices and acquisition of intercultural competence. The project united people living on both sides of the border. Together, we restored the customs „St. George’s day – Hadarlez”, "Wedding", “Dimitrovden – Kasam”. We produced together a traditional recipe book to show that two so different nations like Bulgarian and Turkish have many things in common. Of course, the distinctive beliefs of the two nations have their own peculiarities, but the similarities are obvious. They are based on a number of documented elements. We managed to reach consensus and understanding on all project activities, so its success was expected. Within its framework a study of common traditions and customs of the two border regions was carried out. These traditions dating back to history were studied and explained by specialists - folklorists. The proposed reproductions were an opportunity for cultural exchange and a place where the audience felt free and committed to concrete actions in the context of a "wallless scene". The events were engaged with a diverse audience which participated in the presentation of traditions and customs and interacted with the performers. One of the project's aim was to present the traditional knowledge in a massive way. This was a natural and spontaneous process from the very beginning. An exploration of the foreign culture proved to be an attractive proposition for both sides. After the analysis of the ratio between the similarities and the differences in the various parts of the festivals typical of the Dimitrovgrad and Meric region, a coincidence of over 50% was recorded for the the customs St. George’s day and Hadarlez, Dimitrovden and Kasam and Wedding. As a result, a scientific conference was held setting out the main directions and planning the activities that contributed to the achievement of the stated project goals. A culinary exhibition and traditional food tasting "The taste of Thrace" was organized. As a long-term result of the project a booklet with short description and pictures of common traditions, customs and food "The taste of Thrace" was published and website was created. Project website: http://traditionsandcustoms.org/ Project materials: Project materials are available HERE. Products from the project: Project presentation is available HERE. The Booklet "The Taste of Thrace" is available HERE. Presentation scenario "Organizing an event for the reproduction of common traditions and customs: first common customs: "St. George’s Day" and “Hadarlez" (Bulgarian version) is available HERE. Presentation scenario "Organizing an event for the reproduction of common traditions and customs: second common customs: "Wedding "and" Wedding" (Bulgarian version) is available HERE. Presentation scenario "Organizing an event for the reproduction of common traditions and customs: third common customs:" Dimitrovden "and" Kasam" (Bulgarian version) is available HERE. Folklore touches in the cross-border region in the regions Haskovo - Edirne - 1st part is available HERE. Folklore touches in the cross-border region in the regions Haskovo - Edirne - 2nd part is available HERE. Case Study of traditions and customs as well as for natural and cultural heritage in the border regions: Dimitrovgrad, Bulgaria and Merich, Turkey (Bulgarian version) is available HERE. Case study "The similarities in the culinary culture and culinary recipes between the regions of the Municipality of Merich, Edirne Province and Dimitrovgrad Municipality, Haskovo Region" (Turkish version) is available HERE. Case study "The similarities in the culinary culture and culinary recipes between the regions of the Municipality of Merich, Edirne Province and Dimitrovgrad Municipality, Haskovo Region" (Bulgarian version) is available HERE. Presentation from the Culinary exhibition held on 16-17 November 2018 in Merich Cultural Center Conference hall (Turkish version) is available HERE. Presentation "Common food culture from Edirne and Haskovo region" (Turkish version) is available HERE.
Partners

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Project summary:	The overall goal of the project is to strengthen the cross-border capacity for cooperation in the field of sustainable tourism based on the common cultural heritage. The specific objectives are to strengthen sustainable tourism in the cross-border region by capitalizing on the common cultural heritage and increasing cross-border interaction between generations through the restoration of customs and traditions. Project activities include: research of the cultural heritage in the region and related customs and traditions; developing scenarios for theatrical reconstructions of customs and traditions for the children participating in the project; presentation of the reconstructions in Edirne and Burgas; organizing a children's folklore festival to present the customs and traditions of the region to the general public. As a result of the project implementation, the tangible and intangible cultural heritage in the cross-border region will be studied; developed a tool for promoting the intangible cultural heritage through theatrical reconstructions; increased cross-border cooperation for sustainable tourism through knowledge of the intangible cultural heritage of the region. The participants in the project - children aged 4-7 years will acquire knowledge about the customs, culture and traditions of their own and neighboring, on the other side of the border, region through the method of "learning by doing" in theatrical reconstructions of customs and traditions from the cross-border region Burgas - Edirne. Status of the project: completed The project "Grandma's Chest - A Journey to the Country of the Customs of Burgas and Edirne" managed to achieve its goals and develop cross-border tourism potential on both sides of the border. Experts studied the region's cultural heritage and related customs and traditions, and a study booklet was published, which is in the public eye. Scenarios for theatrical reconstructions of customs and traditions were developed by external experts, in which the children from the target group played customs and traditions within Activities 3 and 4. During the "Journey in the customs and traditions of Burgas and Edirne," the children visited the partner country and cultural monuments, where they played reconstructions of customs and traditions according to the scenarios of Activity 2. As a final activity of the project in Bulgaria was held Children's Folklore Festival, which took place in Burgas. The host was Kindergarten Valshebstvo - the customs and traditions of the region were presented to the general public. During all the activities we had many difficulties related to the pandemic situation on both sides of the region, but we managed to cope with the challenge and bring a lot of new knowledge and smiles in children's eyes.
Partners

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Project summary:	The project envisages research of the legendary places in the regions of Edirne and Burgas. Information and photos will be gathered from various sources – books, periodicals, films, memories and stories of locals. The potential of cultural tourism related to regional legendary places a capacity building seminar for representatives of local authorities and a seminar for tourism students will be organized. Project events - a Photo exhibition in Edirne and “Festival of the legends” in Burgas will raise the awareness among the general public concerning the cultural and historical assets of the cross border region. The project will contribute to the development of cooperation among the partners from both sides of the border and to capacity raising in the field of sustainable tourism development. Project status: Finished The project partners have implemented the activities according to the schedule. The project made the first steps to popularize the cultural heritage of Strandzha, passed mouth-to-mouth from centuries and preserved the local spirit to this day. In global frame the cultural tourism is the biggest and most profitable sector in the field of tourism and some destinations are able to generate millions of revenues only due to the legends. Strandzha Mountain, considered a mysterious and mystical place, has great potential for development of new tourist product, based on legends. The partners in the project established the goal to attract the attention of the local communities, local administrations, businesses, investors and tourists to this unused potential with the belief that the new tourist product could become a driving force for regional development and social prosperity. For one year, full of events, trainings and seminars, exhibitions and festivals took turn on both sides of the border. A large-scale study has been carried out to collect and describe the oldest authentic and little-known legends. Memories and stories by local residents, publications in scientific papers, periodicals and films have been systemised and summarized. More than 100 photos illustrate the legendary places in the mountain. Texts and photos, after selection and editing, were collected in the booklet “Strandzha – Path of legends”, which presents the magic and mysticism of the mysterious mountain. Many people have passed through Strandzha Mountain, lived there and created its history. The book tracks the legends from the creation of the mountain and its symbolic settlements to the traditions that are still alive today. From it one can learn about the healing power of Strandzha's water, the life of the mythological hero Orest - the creator of Edirne, about the disappearance of entire village - Göl Baba, the cat-woman Bastet, who asked for Strandzha to be her eternal home, the places where snakes and dragons lived ... and people say they still live there. Project website: www.strandjayildiz.com Project products: The Booklet "Strandzha - Path of Legends" is available HERE. A presentation "Strandzha" (Bulgarian version), by Vladimir Dimitrov, is available HERE. A presentation "Cultural and Legendary Tourism" (Bulgarian version), by Prof. Lina Anastasova, is available HERE. A presentation "Regional Product" (Bulgarian version), by Prof. Lina Anastasova, is available HERE. A presentation "Mountain Tourism" (Bulgarian version), by Prof. Lina Anastasova, is available HERE. A presentation "The Ancient Sanctuaries of the Mystic Strandzha (Bulgarian version), by Ivelina Ivanova, is available HERE. A presentation "Edirne as a Destination - SWOT Analysis" (Turkish version), by Dr. Cigdem Unurlu, is available HERE. A presentation "The Tourism Development in Edirne" (Turkish version) is available HERE. A presentation "Cultural Tourism Potential of Edirne" (Turkish version) is available HERE. A presentation "Tourism Development Requirements in Edirne" (Turkish version) is available HERE. A study of legendary places in Strandzha region, by Diana Radoynova, is available HERE.
Partners

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Project summary:	The overall goal of the project is the development of sustainable tourism by building on the achievements of the previous project, which described and summarized the legends of the cross-border region. The specific objectives are to link the legends with geographical places to visit, increase the capacity and cooperation between regional actors for sustainable tourism development, increase the tourist attractiveness of the cross-border region through initiatives to promote cultural and historical heritage, raise public awareness of common cultural heritage. The project activities include the creation of a database and a description of geographical locations related to the legends; development of 3 pilot cross-border routes; creation of electronic and printed tools for promotion of Strandzha as a mountain of legends; organizing a round table in Edirne - discussion on "The tourist potential of Strandzha legends" with the participation of representatives of the tourism industry on both sides of the border; holding a seminar in Burgas on "New methods for interpretation and presentation of cultural heritage" with the participation of representatives of cultural institutions and local administrations from Bulgaria and Turkey; pilot activities for interpretation of legendary tourism - reconstructions of one Bulgarian and one Turkish legends, which will be presented in the Turkish and in the Bulgarian part of Strandzha; organization of informative journalistic tours; conducting training on "United ideas for presenting a sustainable cross-border tourism product" and a press conference in Edirne; holding two information days - in Edirne and in Burgas - to acquaint the general public with the legendary places in Strandzha. As a result of the project implementation, three pilot cross-border tourist routes will be developed, the attention of the general public to the cultural and historical values of the cross-border region will be increased, cooperation between regional actors on both sides of the border will be strengthened. Project status: Completed on 04.06.2021 The project activities have been implemented with a change in the planned schedule and the method of monitoring, proposed by the conditions of the measures taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Strandzha Mountain stretches over the territory of Bulgaria and Turkey and for years the people who inhabited the mountain created a specific common way of life and culture, which were told in legends and myths. Traditions cannot be closed within countries and borders. Reaching our days, they are our common cultural and historical value, and some of them are related to specific geographical places in the Bulgarian and Turkish part of the mountain. As a continuation of the joint work of the project partners under project CB005.1.23.107 "Path of legends - creating new partnerships for the development of sustainable cultural and historical tourism", reconstructions of two legends were prepared - one on the Turkish side of Strandzha and one of the Bulgarian side. The show is presented in Edirne and Primorsko. Amateur folk spectator theatre - Edirne you went back thousands of years, in the years of the Trojan War with the story of the creator of Edirne Orestes - son of Clytemnestra and Agamemnon. The Dance group "Roosters" from Burgas, interprets the Bulgarian legend of the origin of Strandzha Mountain, inhabited by fairy creatures and dragons and as one of them stole the girl Rusa. The unique show, which will show how all the legends and specifics related to their places can become a tourist attraction and attract new fans of romance, mysticism and the first part, which Strandzha generously donates. Within the project, 3 pilot cross-border routes related to legends were developed, which are included in a tourist guide and interactive organizer: route "Discoverers and creators" - Sozopol - Primorsko - Sinemorets - Malko Tarnovo / Derekoy border checkpoint - Dupnitsa cave - Edirne, route "Secrets and mysteries" - Gramatikovo - Indipasha - Malko Tarkovoy - GK Babaeski - Edirne and the route "Wisdom and Faith" - Tsarevo - the village of Bulgari and the area of Vlahov dol - the village of Zabernovo - the village of Byala Voda - Kovach - Brashlyan - Malko Tarnovo / Derekoy - Kaynardzha - Midia - Edirne. A digital application developed by the project allows you to publish information about legends, contact these places, the most famous, local culinary traditions and accommodation along the routes. To promote them, two information days were held in Edirne and Pomorie, a tourist tour for journalists in the cross-border region. A round table on "Tourist potential of the legends of Strandzha" with the participation of representatives of the tourism business from both countries was held in Edirne, as well as a seminar "New methods for presenting cultural heritage" with the participation of cultural organizations from both countries - in Burgas. More information is available on the project website.
Partners

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