Strandja/Yildiz -the mountain of festivals (STRANDJA-FEST)

The project aims to improve the access to tourist information for the cross-border region and increase the awareness about Strandja as a festive tourism destination.  The design of a joint festival Programme will reinforce the local festivals by building a network of festivals and fairs with trainings for organizers and stakeholders.

The major activities include capacity building for development of Strandja as a festive destination based on the cultural heritage and local traditions in the cross-border region.  Organization of a pilot joint cross-border Festival "Strandja-Yildiz" and elaboration of Internet marketing tools for promotion of Strandja/Yildiz as mountain of festivals are envisaged.

As a result a new cross-border touristic product will be developed - Festival "Strandja-Yildiz" and a joint plan for promotion of Strandja as a festive destination and improved cross-border capacity and cooperation.

Project status: Finished

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

The project Strandja fest has been implemented in partnership between National Community Centre “Prosveta – 1914” Malko Tarnovo and Kirklareli District Directorate of Culture and Tourism. The duration of the project was 15 months and it has started on 21.03.2017 and finalized on 20.06.2018. 

Local festivals and events are considered to be significant cultural 'assets' that can substantially contribute to the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage of cross-border region. Consequently, they are part of the local cultural identity, an essential element of the originality and branding of cross-border areas, and may act as tourism attraction poles.The idea for development of Strandja as a festival destination brought together representatives of local and regional authorities, non-governmental organizations and community centers from Malko Tarnovo and Kirklareli, Turkey. Strandja fest project provided opportunity for local stakeholders to learn how to manage events and festivals for more benefits for community and tourism development in the region including increased visits and expenditure, reduced seasonality of sea resorts, repeated visits and increased regional awareness.

The project aims to improve the access to tourist information for the cross-border region, to increase the awareness about Strandja as a festive tourism destination and to improve the cross-border capacity and cooperation were reached.  More than 200 festivals and events on the territory of Strandja were identified. Most attractive of them were included in joint calendar and promoted according to a joint plan.

The founding of the Strandja FEST network was initiated by Community center “Prosveta 1914" - Malko Tarnovo and Directorate of Culture and Tourism in Kirklareli, Turkey, as part of the activities of the Strandja FEST project. Strandja FEST was founded as a network of organizations and individuals interested in the development of Strandja as a tourist, cultural and festival destination. Among its founders are representatives of local and regional authorities, community centers, cultural and educational organizations, NGOs, tour operators and representatives of the tourist business. More than 200 festivals and events on the territory of Strandja were identified. Most attractive of them were included in joint calendar and promoted according to a joint plan.

As result a new cross-border touristic product was developed - Festival "Strandja-Yildiz" and a common mountain Strandja/Yildiz  was actively promoted as a festival destination based on historical and cultural heritage of cbc region Bulgaria -Turkey.

Project website: http://strandja-fest.info/

Social Media Presence:

f) www.facebook.com/Strandja-the-mountain-of-festivals

Twitter) https://twitter.com/Strandja_fest

Google +: Strandja.fest@gmail.com / https://plus.google.com/communities/117114735056827831116

Materials from the project:

The promotional materials (poster, rules, agendas and invitations) are available HERE.

Project products:

The Project logo is available HERE.

The Project brochure is available HERE.

The festival book for kids is available HERE.

The Joint promotional plan for 2018 is available HERE.

The Programme for development of festivals and events in Strandja 2017 – 2020 (English version) is available HERE.

Presentations and materials from the training "Development of Strandja as a festive destination" are available HERE.

The Joint calender "Schedule of festivals, events held on the territory of Strandja" is available HERE.

The Memorandum for cooperation and development of Strandja FEST network signed is available HERE.

The E-bulletins are available on the project website: http://strandja-fest.info/buletin.php.

The Calendar of events is available at the following link: http://strandja-fest.info/calendar.php.

The promotional film is available at the YouTube channel of the Programme (short version): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WMi5I12nG4&list=PLwe1R4BMZjDsodEAMWnG6_lawYFnf4qtw&t=0s&index=103 and at the following links (long version): http://strandja-fest.info/festivals_down.php and  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YErb6hWN-oA&t=0s&index=108&list=PLwe1R4BMZjDsodEAMWnG6_lawYFnf4qtw.

The Questionnaire created is available at:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdMMejeH06M8Tl5izHYOesoKNkpy4OkIT7EdtJG4BtL-pBiZg/viewform.