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

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.