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

The project aims to develop the tourism potential in the Strandja and Sakar mountains, occupying a large part of the cross-border region by promoting and presenting in an attractive way the archaeological heritage.

Project activities include a field research of the existing archaeological sites - fortresses, sanctuaries, temples and others on both sides of the border. The study will gather information from local museums and libraries for sites having archaeological value, their current condition will be pictures and GPS positioning will be made. An assessment of the tourism potential of each of the sites in several aspects  will be carried out - attractiveness to tourists, proximity to infrastructure condition and opportunities for exposure. Based on this survey a common strategy for development of the cultural tourism in Strandja and Sakar, including the elaboration of five themed tourist routes will be established.

In order to promote the tourism potential of the region and to present the established routes a diverse advertising campaign including participation in traditional tourism fairs in Burgas and Kırklareli will be conducted. Full color tousim maps of the region, a tourist guide and a 30 minute film presenting the archaeological heritage of Strandja and Sakar will be elaborated and dissemminated.

The project implementation will contribute to enhancing the tourist attractiveness of the cross border region among the professionals of tour operators as well as tourists, creating also a potential for implementation of joint tourism initiatives.

Project status: Finished

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

The overall objective of project “Development of common cultural tourism destination in the Strandzha (Yildiz)/Sakar area based on archaeological and historical objects” with ref. No CB005.1.22.166 was to increase the tourism potential of Strandzha and Sakar mountain area covering the whole cross-border area by developing common destinations – themed touristic routes. Specific objectives of the project were to raise the awareness of general public for archaeological heritage of Sakar and Strandzha; to encourage sustainable tourism through complete study and promotion of the Sakar and Strandzha heritage, to establish new partnership in CB area and the most important goal was to provide to the local population of the area and visitors the chance to feel the magic of mysterious Sakar and Strandzha mountains. For those purposes, five thematic tourism routes were developed within the project, each of which presents the riches and mysteries of these lands from past times – from the Late Antiquity until the Megalithic culture in the region. Specifically, the developed themed tourist routes are: 1. Strandzha and Sakar through the Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages; 2. Strandzha during the Roman age; 3. The Astess kingdom; 4. The Odrysian kingdom; 5. Megalithic culture in Strandzha and Sakar.

To achieve the effective increasing the tourism potential of Strandzha and Sakar mountain area a joint strategy for development of cultural tourism was elaborated and presented in front of stakeholders in Bourgas and Kirklareli. Project partners participated in 2 tourism fairs – events, giving the chance for good marketing and promotion of the cultural tourism riches. Furthermore, many tools were developed within the project for promotion of the developed themed routes and the target area – pocket guide, containing photos and information on the most significant cultural sites in the cross-border area; tourism maps with all developed themed routes; website, containing whole information concerning project itself and its results; advertising movie showing the riches in the region, as well a promotional materials as burn on disk the developed strategy; informational leaflets; branded pens, eco-bags, etc. During the project implementation period two press conferences were also conducted in Bourgas.

For every one interested about the magic in the Sakar and Strandzha area, a photo exhibition with ones of the most beautiful and mysterious sites can be visited in the building of educational center in h.e. “Zornitsa”, town of Bourgas, Bulgaria.

Project website: http://strandzha-sakar-history.com

Materials from the project:

The promotional materials (banner, notebook, folder, badge, pen, etc.) are available HERE.

The Project leaflet is available HERE.

Project products:

A report to stage 1 on topic “Criteria for classification of archaeological monuments and structural description of part of them” (in English and Bulgarian), with authors: Daniela Agre - Expert archeologist and Deyan Dichev - Assistant archaeologist is available HERE.

A report to stage 2 on topic „Structured description of archaeological monuments according to the classification criteria and proposal for possible thematic routes” (in English and Bulgarian), with authors: Daniela Agre - Expert archeologist and Deyan Dichev - Assistant archaeologist is available HERE.

A report to stage 3 on topic “Structured description of the archaeological monuments on the territory of Strandzha and Sakar according to the classification criteria” (in English and Bulgarian), with authors: Daniela Agre - Expert archeologist and Deyan Dichev - Assistant archaeologist is availablae HERE.

Report on the implementation of stage 1 on topic “Analysis of the connection and accessibility to anthropogenic and natural tourist sites in Strandzha Deventski hills and Sakar Mountain with the main transport infrastructure”  (in English and Bulgarian), with author Veselin Kalvachev – expert History and Geography is available HERE.

Report on the implementation of stage 2 on topic “Collecton and analyses of the existing statistics on tourist flows in the targeted Bulgarian area and how the flow of tourism can be attracted by the new thematic routes” (in English and Bulgarian) with author Veselin Kalvachev – expert History and Geography is available HERE.

Report on the implementation of stage 3 on topic “Research of the existence and adequacy of available tourist information for the Border Region between Bulgaria and Turkey and how it can be improved to ensure increased visits to popular archaeological and historical sites” (in English and Bulgarian) with author Veselin Kalvachev – expert History and Geography is available HERE.

Cultural research on topic "Study of the archaeological sites in the region of Strandzha/Yildiz and Sakar mountains" (in English and Turkish) is available HERE.

Study of the cultural tourism on topic “Study of the cultural sites in the target region with tourism potential and analyzing the current" (in English and Turkish) is available HERE.

A report to stage 1 with focus on the development of 5 themed tourist routes (Bulgarian version) is available HERE.

Joint Strategy for development of common cultural tourism destination in the Strandzha (Yildiz)/ Sakar area based on archaeological and historical objects in the cross-border region of Republic of Bulgaria and Republic of Turkey (in Bulgarian and English) is available HERE.

Sustainability Report for Thrace Megalithics and Cultural Tourism (in Turkish and English) is available HERE.

Strategic Development Expert Report (in English and Turkish) is available HERE.

Sustainability and strategy development experts’ final report (in English and Turkish) is available HERE.

The tourist map is available HERE.

Pocket guide for tourists (in Turkish, Bulgarian and English) is available HERE.

The project presentation is available HERE.

30-minutes advertising movie "Cultural tourism in the region of Strandja and Sakar" is available at the following links: http://strandzha-sakar-history.com/en/library, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5CLjfl010Y and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5CLjfl010Y&index=115&t=19s&list=PLwe1R4BMZjDsodEAMWnG6_lawYFnf4qtw.

The interactive map is available at the following link: http://strandzha-sakar-history.com/en/map.