Development and promotion of gourmet and wine tourism in the cross-border region of Bulgaria and Turkey (TransGourmeTour)

The objective of the project is to increase the capacity for sustainable tourism development in the cross-border region of Bulgaria and Turkey through promotion of common destinations for gourmet and wine tourism and to use IT technologies to develop and promote the specific gourmet tourism as an alternative form of tourism.

The project activities include two studies of destinations for gourmet and wine tourism in regions of Haskovo, Burgas and Yambol, Bulgaria and Edirne and Kirklareli, Turkey and the examination of the markets for authentic food in the cross-border region as well. Bulgarian and Turkish recipes for dishes and beverages will be documented, and information on traditional feasts and fairs related to food and wine will be explored.

The research will cover hotels, restaurants, wine cellars, dairies, bakeries, farm markets, etc., and then a common database of 100 sites will be created. It is planned to be organized two culinary exhibitions, which will present Tourist Gourmet Guide and new tourist packages in Bulgaria and Turkey.

The implementation of the project will contribute to the sustainable development of tourism and increasing the tourist attractiveness of the region by developing and promoting common destinations for gourmet and wine tourism аmong the population in the cross-border region.

Project status: Finished

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

The overall project objective was to increase the cross-border cooperation capacity for sustainable tourism development through the promotion of traditional local wines and food via IT technologies.

Two studies of destinations for gourmet and wine tourism in Bulgaria (district Haskovo, Burgas and Yambol) and Turkey (provinces Edirne and Kirklareli) were carried out under the project. Their aim was to identify potential touristic sites at the cross-border regions such as hotels, huts, restaurants, wineries, dairy farms, bakeries, markets, farms, as well as traditional local meals and drinks, traditional fairs and festivals related to food and wine. Upon their conclusion, the entire information was systemized and summarized into a database, which was used for the creation of a trilingual Online Tourist Gourmet Guide – an online platform and a mobile app. Thus, any visitor of the cross-border region can find everything that he wants in one spot. The Guide also introduces some new tourist packages for gourmet tourism.   

The partners organized two one-day Culinary Exhibitions – one in Harmanli, Bulgaria and one in Edirne, Turkey. The guests at the Exhibitions were able to witness firsthand the preparation of some traditional meals as katmi and tava ciger and to try other traditionally produced ones. The atmosphere of the Exhibitions was extremely stimulating and it created positive attitudes towards alternative gourmet tourism.

After the creation and launching of the Online Tourist Gourmet Guide, the partners organized two press conference (one in TR and one in BG). They presented to the public the executed under the Project activities, the Interreg Programme as well as the innovative IT tools for promotion of the cross-border region as an attractive tourist destination for gourmet tourism.

Project website:

www.transgourme.eu - online platform Tourist Gourmet Guide

Materials from the project:

The promotional materials (banners, posters, shades, bag, hat and aprons) are available HERE.

Project logo is available HERE.

Project products:

Study of destinations for gourmet and wine tourism in Turkey (in Turkish and English), is available HERE.

Study of destinations for gourmet and wine tourism in Bulgaria (in Bulgarian and English) is available HERE.

Project presentation in Bulgarian language is available HERE.

Project presentation in English language is available HERE.

Mobile application Tourist Gourmet Guide is available for Android at the following link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.transgourme.transgourmetour&hl=en_US.

9 tourist routes for culinary and wine tourism in the cross-border region - in electronic format are available on the web platform (Section Tourist Routes) at the following links:

- Bulgarian version: www.transgourme.eu/bg/туристически-пакети/;

- English version: www.transgourme.eu/en/тourist-packages/;

- Turkish version: www.transgourme.eu/tr/тurist-paketleri.

10-minutes video reportage about the project is available at the following link in YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USEWmGGapf4&t=14s&list=PLwe1R4BMZjDsodEAMWnG6_lawYFnf4qtw&index=14