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

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

The project aims strengthening of the tourism potential of Yambol-Edirne destination through innovative promotion methods and increasing the attractiveness of the local festivals.

The project envisages promotion of two local festivals - each one will be popularized in the partnering country across the border.  The promotional campaign of the Bulgarian festival “Kukerlandia” will be held in Edirne and of the Turkish “Kirkpinar Oil Wrestling” festival - in Yambol. Within the scope of the project the “Museum of Kirkpinar Oil Wrestling” in Edirne will be equipped and furnished. Project partners will organize 2 roundtable meetings entitled "How can you promote the festival to increase tourism".

As a result a new concept for conducting cultural and festival events will be developed. The project will contribute to strengthening of the  tourism potential  in the cross-border region.

Project status: Finished

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

During the years 2017 and 2018, the popularization of the unique Bulgarian and Turkish traditions has been in the focus of project “Growing up Festivals with innovative Approaches”, and thank to the project activities Kukerlandia festival reached beyond the boundaries of Bulgaria and the Festival of Kirkpinar Oil Wrestling was performed in Yambol, Bulgaria.

The revival of the Kuker-tradition (mummer) and the transformation of the Southeastern region into an attractive tourist destination are part of the goals of the project, which is realized on the territory of several settlements in the municipality of Tundja, Bulgaria and Edirne, Turkey. There, century-old customs are being modernized, becoming popular to young people and managing to turn the event into a truly modern festival.

Within the project under the hands of the young artists Nikolay Dimitrov and Daniel Dubarov the buildings of the municipality, the stadium, the community center, the open stage and the post in the two villages acquired a picturesque, new look. With their help and talent, the mummer masks and traditions "come to life" on the facades of buildings in two settlements of the municipality. Three-dimensional figures and a multitude of colorful pictures of mummers remind residents and guests about the Bulgarian traditions and make the small settlements a real attraction for the tourists.

As part of the project activities, elaboration of mummer masks, necklaces, bells and stitches in support of twelve mummer groups have been a real challenge. Local craftsmen and tailors of mummer clothing with extreme precision and love for the tradition created 200 patterns that mummer wore during the Kukerland Masquerade Festival.

An emphasis in the innovative promotion of the Kukeri tradition beyond the boundaries of Bulgaria has been the performance of a spectacular demonstration of mummer games in the center of Edirne. The event gathered many people who discovered the treasure of Bulgarian folklore and traditions for the first time.

Materials from the project:

The Promotional materials are available HERE.

Project products:

The project brochure is available HERE.

The Final report from concluding discussion about "How can you promote the festival to increase tourism" is available HERE.

Final report from concluding discussion on topic “Organizing and conducting round table meeting about "How can you promote the festival to increase tourism: Conclusions and Recommendations” is available HERE.

Social media presence of the project:

https://www.facebook.com/Проект-Разширяване-на-фестивали-с-иновативни-подходи-165383960868372/?hc_ref=ARSZnZsEc1x5VLojrp1m_UABfnGqMr2rM6MlNfiYYOSSQcdfFof3HSy0_8a8Dxq4ysk