Crossing the paths of History and Culture

With the advent of the opening of the Cross-border passage in Makaza/ Nymfaia and the improvement of the road infrastructure between the cities  of Hascovo (BG) and Komotini (GR) the area has been the main passage of tourists coming from the East Balkans heading towards the southeast Greek Seaside resorts. This huge inter-mobility of people presents a huge opportunity for the local economy to expand through tourism. Traditional Local Tourism Concepts and Destinations in the area can be redefined and rebranded to include both of these areas, and the areas adjacent to the main road axis that interconnects these cities referring not only to the spatial proximity but also to the cultural and social as well.
 

The project aims to highlight the cross -border axis "Komotini – Haskovo", as the main historical, cultural, economic, logistic and touristic axis in the programme area. The common cultural background and its expression through theatre and folk events and the empowerment of the connection among cultural clubs and entrepreneurships of two areas.
 

Developing a cross-border common tourist identity through cultural events and theatrical education will create a model, which encourages faster and more efficient social-economic integration and understanding of common path, empowering the cooperation in economical and touristic sector of both areas. Also the creation of joint tourist brand of the bordering areas helps to create competitiveness and higher differentiation of comprehensive tourist product in the global tourist market, creating a permant link among the two areas.

The main project results will be, the cultural and tourist connection of Komotini and Haskovo, the adjustment of policy of both Municipalities to the new conditions that the Komotini – Makaza road has created.The empowerment of tourism through cultural activity, the wider spread of theatrical education, the creation of a cross border network of among entrepreneurs.
 

The main project outputs will Innovative Digital tools for the promotion of theatrical education, integration of E-tools and knowledge/tourist DBs (JTI, GreenSpots) to the traditional signage system of POIs, an integrated cultural and touristic product and direct linkage of cultural clubs and amateur theatrical groups of Komotini and Haskovo. The project target groups are: Young people, students, Entrepreneurs, tourism Stakeholders, Cultural clubs, Theater groups, public
 

The branding of bordering areas introduces a cluster concept in culture which is a useful innovative platform in creating an efficient marketing strategy of bordering areas by presenting themselves together in the global market. Also the capitalization of existing Dbs (JTI, GreenSpots) and signage of POIs, and utilizing their data in a VR environment is a new concept for the area and the project’s outputs will be combined with the outputs of local and regional initiatives (via Egnatia ITI, Leader CLLDs).