Cross-border cooperation network in the field of tourism “Topolovgrad-Pinarhisar”

Project code:CB005.1.23.051
Project call:CB005.1
Priority axis / Specific objective:2.3. Increasing networking for development of sustainable tourism through cross-border cooperation initiatives
Type of project:Soft
Project duration in months:13
Project final contract amount:82547.50 €
Project EU co-financing rate:85.00 %
Project start date:21.03.2017
Project end date:20.04.2018
Project intervention field:092 Protection, development and promotion of public tourism assets
Project summary:

The project aims to create and develop effective cooperation in the field of tourism in the cross border region Topolovgrad - Pinarhisar for promotion of the cultural, the historical and the natural resources.

Project activities include organizing a series of events in the two municipalities - Topolovgrad and Pinarhisar aiming to attract visitor interest. The implementation of a threedays cross-border forum in Topolovgrad (Bulgaria) with the participation of local authorities, NGOs, cultural and educational institutions for establishing partnerships and initiatives in the tourism sector is envisaged. Within the event a tour of the tourist attractions of the municipality of Topolovgrad will be held. In Pinarhisar (Turkey) a training seminar aiming to increase the capacity for organizing tourist activities and for introducing innovative methods for promotion will be conducted. To present the existing cultural, historical and natural resources the elaboration of two photo lanes "The riches of the cross border region Topolovgrad - Pinarhisar" in the citycenters of both towns is planned. The photographs for the intallations will be taken during a two-month workshop with the participation of 24 young interested in photography. A "Festival of the honey and the treacle" in Pinarhisar and a "Festival of the bread and wine" in Topolovgrad will be held that will create innovative cultural products with potential for conversion into a sustainable tourist attraction for both border regions.

The project implementation will improve the awareness for the tourism resources andthe opportunities for their use, as well as increasing the capacity of local communities to participate in activities related to sustainable tourism development.

Project status: Finished

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

In 2017-2018, the partners “St. Cyril and Methodius-1894“- Community Centre, Topolovgrad, Bulgaria and the Pinarhisar Municipality, Turkey, implemented the “Cross-border cooperation network in tourism Topolovgrad-Pinarhisar“ project, financed by the INTERREG program for cross-border cooperation Bulgaria-Turkey 2014-2020. The activities were interconnected, and their successful implementation was carried out with the participation of a wide range of representatives of institutions and organizations from both municipalities - Topolovgrad and Pinarhisar.

The work of the team was aimed at attracting additional tourist interest to the Topolovgrad-Pinarhisar region by presenting and exploring the historical and natural sites of the two territories. The primary approach to the implementation was also related to the creation of new attractive cultural events, namely through the organization of Festivals.

The project started with a Cross-border forum in Topolovgrad, where the representatives of local authorities, organizations, institutions, and citizens from both cities got to know each other and presented the tourist sites in the region, which have the potential to become tourist attractions.

"How to promote the potential of both municipalities to achieve Sustainable Tourism development" was the main topic of the Pinarhisar Training Workshop, thus increasing the capacity of a total of 44 representatives of the two municipalities to carry out tourist activities to attract new visitors to the region.

The Photo Lanes, with the participation of 24 young people, in the two cities attracted the interest of local citizens and visitors of Topolovgrad and Pinarhisar and included photos and texts of the most significant cultural and historical sites of both regions. This innovative initiative presented the richness of the cross-border Topolovgrad-Pinarhisar region and enriched the opportunities for attracting additional tourist and visitor's interest.

Within the framework of the project, two new cultural events were set up: the Festival of Honey and trickle in Pinarhisar and the Festival of Bread and Wine in Topolovgrad, which will become a tradition and will attract new visitors each year. Extremely attractive for the participants and the guests were the two expositions – of honey and local traditional foods in Pinarhisar and of bakery products, wine and local traditional foods in Topolovgrad, which were accompanied by the preparation of local dishes and tasting of the dishes from the two regions, and concerts with the participation of Bulgarian and Turkish artistic and creative formations, provoked true admiration. The Topolovgrad and Pinarhisar Festivals attracted more than 1200 spectators and participants who have certainly become good ambassadors for the culture of both communities. Both events were widely reported in the media of the two countries.

The “Topolovgrad-Pinarhisar cross-border co-operation network in tourism” project ended with an international conference with 60 representatives of NGOs, educational and cultural institutions, local authorities and local businesses in the tourism industry, media. As a culmination of the project, an Agreement between the Municipality of Topolovgrad and the Municipality of Pinarhisar for cooperation in the field of tourism was signed within the framework of the Conference. The main conclusions that emerged were related to the successful implementation of the project in the direction of acquaintance with the common heritage, the exchange of experience and good practices, and the motivation of the participants to implement common initiatives in tourism. The main conclusions that emerged were related to the successful implementation of the project for the acquaintance with the common heritage, the exchange of experience and good practices and the motivation of the participants to implement common initiatives in tourism. In support of the future cooperation of both partners from Topolovgrad and Pinarhisar, a Marketing Report has been developed and presented that includes specific guidelines and recommendations to local authorities and organizations for the development of sustainable tourism in the cross-border region.

In order to promote the project and the overall tourist potential, the Promotional Film “Cross-border region Topolovgrad-Pinarhisar - an incredible experience” was created, through which the potential visitors of the region can get acquainted with the activities in the project, with the unique resources of the tangible and intangible cultural heritage of the region, the Festival of Honey and Trickle in Pinarhisar and the Festival of Bread and Wine in Topolovgrad.

Project website:

www.topolovgrad-pinarhisar.com

Materials from the project:

The Promotional materials (branded folders, notepads, pens, invitations for the project events) elaborated by the project partners are available HERE.

The Project leaflets are available HERE.

Project products:

The project brochure is available HERE.

The Report “Analysis of the situation in tourism in the cross-border region of Topolovgrad-Pinarhisar” (English version) is available HERE.

The Marketing report “Attracting Tourists and Visitors to the cross-border Region” (English version) is available HERE.

The report “Presentation of the Legal Framework in the Field of Tourism in the Context of European and National legislation” in Bulgarian language is available HERE.

The promotional film "Cross-border region Topolovgrad-Pinarhisar - an incredible experience" was created is available at the following links: in Bulgarian language with subtitles in English: http://www.topolovgrad-pinarhisar.com/%d0%bf%d1%80%d0%be%d0%bc%d0%be%d1%86%d0%b8%d0%be%d0%bd%d0%b0%d0%bb%d0%b5%d0%bd-%d1%84%d0%b8%d0%bb%d0%bc/ and at the YouTube channel of the programme https://www.youtube.com/edit?video_id=GEkP6Luc_iw&video_referrer=watch and in Turkish language with subtitles in English: http://www.topolovgrad-pinarhisar.com/tr/tanitim-filmi/ and at the YouTube channel of the programme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05ORUfy5E8A&feature=youtu.be.  

The Presentation of the Project is available HERE.

The Presentation "A summary of the Marketing Report "Attracting Tourists and Visitors to the Trans-border Region Topolovgrad-Pinarhisar" is available HERE.

The Presentation "Using the resources of culture and turning them into tourist resources” is available HERE.

The Presentation “Innovative mechanisms for promoting the tourist resources of the CB region” is available HERE.

The Agreement signed between the Municipality of Topolovgrad and the Municipality of Pinarhisar for cooperation in the field of tourism is available HERE.

Partners

Leading partner
“St.St. Cyril and Methodius - 1894“ Community Centre
PP2
Pinarhisar Municipality Administration