Trakia Journal of Sciences, Vol. 9, Suppl. 3, pp 120-130, 2011 Copyright © 2011 Trakia University Available online at: http://www.uni-sz.bg ISSN 1313-7069 (print) ISSN 1313-3551 (online)

CULTURE AS A MEANS FOR A SUSTAINABLE LOCAL DEVELOPMENT IN TRANS-BORDER RURAL AREAS

A. Gouridis*

Municipality of Soufli,

ABSTRACT The rural Balkan areas are characterized by the urgent need for their coming-in pace with the economically developed European regions. The application of a coherent regional policy, concerning the management of the local resources, meeting across priority needs and taking advantage of potential advantages could open the way for a sustainable development. The role of culture in such a perspective is crucial. The trans-border Thracian lands of Greece have been sufficiently financed, both by the European Union and by national funds. Although the results do not mount up to a satisfactory outcome, the accumulated experience, concerning culture and cultural tourism, through the thorough examination of the drawbacks and minuses, as well as the pluses and advantages can help both, and the neighboring, “new in Europe” , to reveal the problems, to avoid failures and, working together, to exploit the emerging perspectives.

Key words: sustainable development, rural areas, trans-border, experience, European Union, programmes, case studies.

INTRODUCTION: CULTURE AND evolution, but as a product, as well, proving CULTURAL TOURISM itself “useful” in the following three ways: Culture as a term sprang from economy and - As a general frame of terms and principles, the Latin verb “colere”, meaning the necessary for any development policy. cultivation of crops and animals. (1) Thus, -As a supporting grid of outcomes which can initially, it metaphorically implied the be used complementary, i.e. in branding, “cultivation” of our personal or collective advertisement, support or “illustration” of a spiritual selves, as well as the means to achieve policy. it. - As a crucial economic tool, offering the Today, the concept of culture has become means for development through the particularly wide. Already in 1952 A.Kroeber exploitation of local resources and especially and C.Kluckhohn attributed no less than 164 through cultural tourism. different meanings to the word. (2) The prevailing, conceptual one considers culture as Tourism is a peculiar, multiply interdependent a set of shared values, goals, attitudes, sector of the world market, (3) constantly practices and achievements, which characterize growing and overcoming any crisis, since it a group, an institution, a nation etc. Moreover, satisfies the needs of the human being for culture, as an elementary factor of the differentiation in time and activities, for leisure communal self-identity and prosperity, can and for getting to know the world around. contribute substantially to its development, These elementary “habitual social pleasures” perceived, not only as a process of intellectual, form the main objective of modern tourism and spiritual and aesthetic self-knowledge and cannot be deprived from the citizen. (4) ______*Correspondence to: Athanassios I. Gouridis, Dr Culture and tourism have a deep, mutually civil engineer-archaeologist, Municipality of Soufli, beneficial relationship, which can considerably Greece, Tel: +30.6972.608, +30.25543.50.125 fax: increase the competitiveness of regions. (5) +30.25540.22.502, e-mail: [email protected] , Today, when the emphasis is set on [email protected] “stimulating production rather than subsidizing consumption”, (6) the convergence becomes

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GOURIDIS A. more intense. Culture shapes identity, activity in Europe was already conducted to distinctiveness and attractiveness and enhances cultural heritage, while cultural tourism was image and innovation, the main requisitions in expected to be its most growing integral sector. the imposing environment of a globalized, (12) highly competitive tourist market. On the other hand tourism provides indispensable, practical In Greece, post-war tourism policy was oriented to the “three S-es” triangle, sun, sea means to culture, subsidizing creativity and ies helping it to fulfill its goals. Thus, the synergy and sand. In the 70 , though, an attempt was widens the perspectives and facilitates the new undertaken to promote culture and especially fascinating role of both, moreover contributing archaeological sites and museums, as a main to the social cohesion and the general tourist attraction. (13) In the following effectiveness. (7) decades, when the rest of Europe witnessed the minimization of State intervention in tourism, Cultural tourism covers a wide range of fields, the Greek governments applied a different, starting from the way of life and going on with protective regime. As a result, cultural all its material and immaterial parameters. It destinations were multiplied and attendances includes events, festivals, happenings and concerning archaeological tourism had a everyday activities, as well as historical considerable increase of 150-160% in less than monuments, ethnographic collections and 20 years. (14) complexes, museums, exhibitions and theaters, churches and monasteries, industrial heritage In the last two decades Greek authorities are and, even, national parks or ecosystems in their more intensively focused on cultural as well as wider, cultural concept. (8) The supporting on all-through-the year tourism. Cultural infrastructures must be added here, as well: tourism has at last started to be considered as hotels, restaurants, transport, handicraft and an autonomous, self-integrated tourist sector industry products, sightseeing, management and not merely as a supportive part of the and marketing. general tourism. This is due mainly to the increasing pressure, set by the world tourist The level of the “cultural tourist” is higher than market, which seeks for diversification of the the average one as far as it concerns his/her offered product. (15) At the same time, the cultural, economic, spiritual and social status. transition from “sight-seeing” to “life-seeing” He/she is more educated, can dispose more experience promotes the “atmosphere” and fluently with money, is well informed, using other non-tangible values and encourages the electronic media much more than the innovation, alternative proposals, mobility and average, travels more and spends more money the use of new technologies. (16) per day and per travel. (9) Moreover, cultural tourism, as “the movement of persons to LOCAL AUTHORITIES AND cultural attractions, away from normal place of CULTURAL TOURISM residence”, has a stationary character, Cultural tourist policies are dependent on the necessitating the presence in the proposed wider political, economic and social place, in order to satisfy in a cognitive as well environment; at the same time, the potential as an emotional manner the socio-cultural and the perspectives that culture and cultural needs of the consumer-visitor, so that cannot tourism offer, have raised them to a major be substituted by virtual or other parameter for the regional planning, forcing proposals.(10) local authorities to deal seriously with them. Local communities also press for the Cultural tourism was identified as an area of evolvement of their cultural heritage, since it is national importance as early as 1946, but it ies evident that besides the hosts, they are as well was only at the 60 , when the democratization the active participants in the tourism of culture and the increased public intervention experience, defining “place and atmosphere”. revealed culture, both as a means of (17) documenting national pride and as an economic tool. (11) During the 80ies cultural An area develops its competitiveness by tourism started to be considered as a major proposing services and products, which others source for development in the European cannot offer. These can be searched among the Union. According to the “Europa Nostra”, components constituting the destination edited in 2005, more than 50% of the tourist attractiveness: the core resources and

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GOURIDIS A. attractions, the supporting factors can be helpful, especially in trans-border areas. (infrastructures, accessibility, facilities, All this necessitates the application of an sightseeing etc.), the management and the “alternative” policy, in order for the seriously qualifying parameters, such as security, damaged income to be replaced and for the awareness, image and branding. From them, social and economic life to be rehabilitated. intangible values, such as the “atmosphere”, the quality of life, the cultural identity or the The trans-border rural regions and between participation are the most important, since they them the Greek-Bulgarian ones, present an are exactly those which establish the difference enormous deposit of inherited cultural- and the uniquity. (18) historical assets and sight-seeings. Nevertheless, these areas until recently were Here, the role of the public and the local considered as not proper for investment, authorities is decisive and complex. They can exactly because of their position, for reasons control core funding, in order to ensure the both of “national safety” and high cost of common benefit as well as the preservation of investment. The new approach necessitates: the authenticity of the cultural resources and (a) The documentation and organization of the the local identity. They can be the leaders in “virgin” cultural and environmental, material organizing, planning, improving and immaterial resources in the form of tourist infrastructures, inciting private participation, proposals. jointing together various interests, contributing (b) The maintenance and promotion of the to the image branding and monitoring, the local areal cultural character. latter being necessary not only for proving and (c) The exploitation of the regional geo- demonstrating the effectiveness of tourism strategic advantages. policies, but also for guiding any future The increasing competition, especially on the strategy. (19) field of cultural tourism, incites the cooperation on a regional and a transnational Cultural changes initiated by tourist level, in order for the regions to be more exploitation may have a significant impact “effective”, as proposed places to live, to work both on regional cultural identity and on its and even to invest in. (24) Indeed, possible cohesion. (20) The possible dangers can be beneficiaries have realized that they can gain avoided by the proper control, in order to much more when they accept their neighbor as maximize the social and economic benefits, a partner and not as a threatening competitor. without destroying cultural heritage and quality of lives, or removing authenticity, This perspective finds its optimum distinctiveness and attractiveness, main effectiveness in the trans-border co-operation. advantages of culture as a factor of local For the first time, Greece and , the two development. (21) neighboring countries, though for decades without any contact, have a real chance to Especially today, when the extreme market develop a partnership which includes every liberalization cynically leads to the stage, from the diagnosis to the proposal and valorization of every activity according to its from the tourist packages to the future direct productivity and usually to a short-eyed strategies, taking advantage of the common and distorted “development”, the above paths, i.e. the past, the thematic, the problems, mentioned principles have to be carefully kept. the experience, the perspectives, the outputs and the potential benefits. (24) In fact, a THE TRANSBORDER LOCAL RURAL common proposal can become more attractive AREAS: NEW PERSPECTIVES when it offers at the same time cultural During the last years the rapid transformation diversity and similarity, while it helps the of the rural areas from typical agricultural to partners to avoid mistakes and drawbacks. This those of a mixed economy was followed by partnership can be the culmination of a system noteworthy social changes (22). Migration, at of concentric networks, starting from the inner first, and recently the changes in land one of the local entities and integrated with the exploitation, imposed by the Common international cooperation. European Agricultural Policy, forcibly altered priorities. As a result, agriculture alone is not sufficient any more to sustain provincial life at a bearable level, nor secondary sector activities

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GOURIDIS A. THE HINTERLAND OF THE 3rd Community Support Framework focused, PREFECTURE among the others, on the convergence between The trans-border partnership can find a the poorer and the most developed regions of promising application between Evros and the Europe. Programmes, such as the LEADER neighboring Bulgarian Municipalities of (26) and OPAAH,(27) the Operational Ivailovgrad and Svilengrad. Evros is an Programmes, or the “Law for Development” unusually extended in length prefecture, lying set considerable challenges to the hinterland of between two countries, Bulgaria and Turkey. Evros for a “new”, sustainable approach, both On one hand, Alexandroupolis with its coastal because of its particular geographical position area, offers sea and sun, traditionally serving and its rural isolated profile. the old tourist model; however, recently, a serious effort has been undertaken by the We should start with the valuable experience, private as well as the public sector to increase gained for the environmental tourism in the the duration of the tourist period, promoting Delta of the Evros river and in the National alternative forms of tourism, such as congress, Park of Dadia-Soufli-Levkimi, both of them archaeological or eco-tourism, furnishing them protected by the Ramsar Convention and the with the proper hotel and other infrastructures “Natura 2000” Agenda. The unique biotope of and seeking new tourist markets. Dadia owns a population of 219 species of birds and 36 out of the 38 species of daily On the contrary, the rural trans-border vultures, residing in Europe and it had climbed hinterland might concentrate on alternative and up to high numbers of visitors, annually especially cultural and environmental tourism. approaching the 60.000. (28) The area is comprised of small towns, developed on the western bank of the Evros Traditional folk-life culture is a well-known river, in almost equally distances of 20-30 km tourist resource. In 2005 Greece had no less between them. , Didymoteichon, than 365 folk-life museums and collections, Soufli and Feres are the centers over a rather founded mainly by local authorities and dense system of rural settlements, extending at cultural societies. (29) It is, on the other hand, a zone of about 25-30 km between the borders sad, that the “authentic” folk culture has not with Bulgaria to the West and North and with been the object of a returnable activity, leaving Turkey to the East, in a crucial geostrategical in its place “kitsch” representations of a position. Among them, larger rural settlements, questionable nature. The inconsiderate use of such as Dikaia, or , of a traditional culture for tourism often leads to the size of more than 1000 inhabitants, were formation of a “fake authenticity”. developed during the 60’s and the 70’s as local Nevertheless, a systematic folk-life tourism agricultural- administrative centers. Some of can be successful, regaining vitality and them rose to seats of the “Capodistrian” attractiveness, provided that the cultural municipalities, in 1999, although today faint resource will be confronted with respect, away, after the application of the new adapting the tourist offer to its authenticity, “Kallikrateian” organization of the instead of reshaping it in order to be pleasant Municipalities, which left an area of more and attractive to the client. This also implies than 4.000 km2 with only 4 municipalities. (25) connection with the local market and its The cultural importance of the area is products, for example through workshops of unexpectedly high and remains unknown, not artists, modern art or educational courses and only to foreigners, but to the natives as well. parallel authentic folk-life events and at the Its resources are mainly developed along same time, removal of the plastic plates historical routes, such as the rivers Evros catering and the puppet-like dances. Thus, an (Marica), Ardas and , while interesting ritual, such as that of Kiopek-Bey, they chronologically extend in a continuous, “the Master of the dogs”, has been gradually though not regular manner, starting from the degenerated to a harmless parade, instead of Upper Prehistory. reviving its direct ancestral, orgiastic procession of Dionysos, characterized by the THE IMPLEMENTED WORK ON representation of the pagan fertility, life-death CULTURE “imitations” and extreme phrasal expressions. During the last decades the Greek trans-border In Didymoteichon the event was culminated regions received generous funding, both by the with the Bey’s ritual drowning in the waters of European Union and the State. The 2nd and the Erythropotamos, followed by his miraculous

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GOURIDIS A. resurrection, something that consisted one of and demands, covering a wide spectre, both the main differences between the rural custom chronologically and thematically. and the urban one. (30, Picture 1, from bibl. no.30) Religious tourism is the oldest documented kind of the certain economy, while the interest on it is constantly growing. It includes festivals, happenings, processions, litanies, liturgies and other events, and also material resources, such as architecture (churches, monasteries, sacred caves, mosques etc), icons, literal sources, wall-paintings, as well as souvenirs. (Picture 2) It is a provoking field, which can be promoted together with other cultural attractions, revealing the multi-notable role that the artistic, aesthetic, structural etc. implications of its assets can play. (32)

Picture 1. Kiopek-Bey

Similar “passage” feasts still survive in the area; we could mention the “summer St.Athanassios”, on the 2nd of May, which introduces to the blooming of nature and to the relative agricultural activities, implying a vital economic meaning for the rural population. Clear pagan survivals can also play a substantial role. Such are the kurbans, the ritual sacrifices of animals dedicated to saints, partly maintaining their originally congregational and mystic character, adapted, though, to the modern necessities and conveniences. An interesting example is the St.Demetrius kurban, taken place at the saint’s tiny altar, into the castle of Didymoteichon, which is adorned with the late-byzantine burial Picture 2. The icon of Crucifixion, church of Christ the Savior, Didymoteichon (early 14th century) plaque of the sevastokrator Andronicos Raul

Assan(es) Palaeologos. Here, on the 26th of Through the Leader and the Interreg Initiatives October, at the beginning of the winter season, a number of post-byzantine churches of the the faithful bring two roosters each, which are area has been restored and promoted. We can sacrificed on the upper surface of the mention the churches of Therapeio (1895), sanctuary, reminiscing pagan precedents. (31) th Patagi (17 cent.–1852), the three wall-painted Besides events, institutions and establishments churches of the area of Metaxades (1696- are as well potentially “strong papers” of the 1729), that of the Birth of Virgin Mary in th “folk-life” tourism, the most prevailing being Levkimi (18 cent) or the Armenian church of th th the ethnographic museums and collections. Surp-Kevork (St.George, 18 – early 19 c) in Such is the example of the folk-life museum of Didymoteichon. The interventions included, Didymoteichon, once a large but obsolete besides the restoration of the buildings, the collection, arranged at the four floors of an conservation of icons, wall-paintings or other eloquent mansion of the beginnings of the 20th holy items, signalization and, in some cases, century, later used as an agricultural bank. promotion. The female monastery of Panagia Gradually, through the implementation of a Portaitissa in Kornofolia is an attractive number of projects, the collection is re- example of how religious tourism can be organized and adapted to the modern priorities developed without destroying the Orthodox spirituality and authenticity. (33)

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GOURIDIS A. We should add here a number of local Muslim elite of the countries involved. It was at first religious monuments which reflect the concentrated on a two-week plain-air with considerable role that the region played during seminars, conferences, acquaintance with the the Ottoman expansion in the Balkans. area and its people, workshops for children and Characteristic is the bektashi monastery working in-situ, culminating in two (tekke) of Rousa, erected by Seyyid ‘Ali Sultan exhibitions. The project quickly started to or Kızıl Deli in 1401-02, which still maintains expand both in time and thematically, with a its form, character and sanctity. The annual complementary funding for supporting bektashi congregation at the near-by Hilgia, infrastructures, such as restoring old buildings the prophet Elias’ plateau, next to the Greek- to be used for residence and artistic creation. It Bulgarian border, can be as well a profitable nurtured hopes, reinforced by agreements attraction. (34) concerning a permanent cooperation with Art Academies, as well as by the procedures for In Didymoteichon, a festival aspired to the foundation of an Applied Arts State combine the revival of the first modern Academy in the town. However, the venture Olympic Games in June 1332 and the fainted away, knocking against the lack of Pentecost, a religious celebration connected competent cadres as well as the micro-political with the double salvation of Didymoteichon, interests of the local authorities, dispersing by the Crusaders and the Bulgarians (1206). money in non-productive expenses. (35) It was meant to function both as an introduction to the Byzantine history of the Speaking about arts we should also mention town and its monuments and as an invitation the theatrical weeks in the near-by Orestiada, for the locals to participate in the tourism with the participation of schemes coming from “game”. As far as it was financed by an all over Greece, being a culmination of the agricultural program it also aimed to promote pioneering, high quality work, owed to one and the traditional local products and especially only person, Akis Tsonidis. Some kilometers garlic, coming out at the period. However, to the North, the famous “Ardas river” music from its beginnings it was ingloriously reduced festival, an event of Balkan importance, offers to a parade of bagpipers and a mediocre litany to the visitors, besides music, arts, sports and into the castle. leisure.

Festival tourism is another strong thematic for Festivals, connected to local economic the Balkan rural areas, with a variety of activities step on a firmer base. In Soufli, a happenings. Until now, they are basically picturesque small town, 27 km to the south of focused to the natives, although the majority of Didymoteichon, the festivals of the traditional foreign tourists visit at least one cultural event local products of “tsipouro” (“raki”) and silk during their stay. (36) A noteworthy “good act mutually with a number of implemented practice” can be referred for Didymoteichon. projects, both public and private. The specific Its municipality was enlisted in the National identity of the town, woven with sericulture Cultural Network of Towns, under the auspices and silk, can reflect ideally the combination of of the Ministry of Culture, as a Center of cultural tourism with the brand-named local Meetings of the Eastern European Young traditional products. Artists. The concept dealt with the fact that Didymoteichon could regain its position a The silk festival, with events, such as seminars, spiritual and religious center of the wider concerts, presentation of books, exhibitions Orthodox community, apart from a military etc., functions both as a connector with the and political one, “the most powerful castle in market and its promoter. Wine tourism, on the Romania and one of the wealthiest” (37) other hand, “touches” a prevalent local through a new means of interpreting the world, occupation of the past and can find an that is modern art, under the consideration that excellent field of application in Soufli. The the relative countries were still connected with necessary infrastructures already exist. They the same mentality and ideology. are, for example, the wineries or a traditional restored store-house, where the production of The project targeted to the rapidly developing tsipouro in six cauldrons is combined with the Eastern European tourist market. The indirect realization of the “tsipouro” festival in the first advertisement would be accomplished by the days of November. “Staphylos”, on the other involved small, but influential spiritual-artistic hand, the local “association of the friends of

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GOURIDIS A. grape and wine” extends its activities, from the The project on the ancient burial tumulus near religious rituals in the chapel, dedicated to the Mikri Doxipara, next to the Greek-Bulgarian saint of the vines, St. Tryphon, to the pilot border bears high expectations. The cultivations of vineyards. excavations have revealed five chariots with the horses buried next to them and with What is further needed for Soufli is the eloquent mobile findings. Although the work is combined, systematic promotion of the long-time continuing, the number of the visitors – in a quality products: silk – wine/tsipouro – sausages high percentage students- is impressive and the and of the local heritage, including music and Museum, which is going to be erected in-situ education (38), and, above all, its unique will multiply the local tourist potential. (39) architecture “of silk”.

Educational tourism corresponds to high level Alternative tourism can be approached more tourist qualifications, since it answers to the effectively through the combination of human necessity for enriching knowledge. Until different objectives, subjected to the same now it has not been a systematic source of central strategy, something that will allow for income for the area. Nevertheless, here the the optimum funding, organization, connection students’ weekly excursions can be developed, as with the local market, promotion and well as a small scale “congress tourism”, which dispersion. An example comes from Soufli; can take advantage of the geographic position of here, cultural development policies are the area and the advanced intercourse of the declared as priority ones, as it was confirmed locals with our Balkan neighbors. Moreover, by the Municipal Operational Program of besides the economic profit the area could be 2009. The Leader and Interreg Operational also benefited by the multiple contribution of the Programmes offered the possibility to increase participating scientists. the number of the known destinations and to lengthen the potential visitors’ sojourn, Since history and archaeology form a strong developing, together with the Bulgarian advantage for the area, the restoration and neighbors, a network of co-operation, rehabilitation of the castles of Didymoteichon and Pythion form a strong tool for development. promoting common sustainable tourism offers. Work was implemented through the co-financed Such projects were: (40)

Operational Programmes. The Pythion castle, The restoration and promotion of the old refuge and safe of the emperor Joannes VI masonry bridges of the area, an unexploited Kantakuzenos, met an exemplary restoration, field of the traditional Balkan architecture, undertaken by the Archaeological Service itself, while the much larger and most important implying a multiple constructional, historical, Didymoteichon castle exhibits signs of a symbolical etc. significance. fragmentary and occasionally careless work. “Architecture on the routes of silk”, including (Picture 3) the research and documentation of the material, the study of the restoration of a neoclassical building as a “Museum of Thracian Architecture”, the promotion, popularization and a conference. The project had a mirror Bulgarian project, dealing with the traditional sericulture and its architecture in the Ivailovgrad area.

“The Past as the Future: historical topography of the area of the Municipality of Soufli and local development”. Here, five sub-projects comprised an integrated view on the local archaeological heritage, starting from the documentation of the material and culminating with a Greek-Bulgarian scientific conference, through the co-operation with four Bulgarian partners, from Svilengrad to Melnik. The project revealed about 20 sites, most of them previously unknown, which were approached, Picture 3. The castle of Pythion

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GOURIDIS A. studied and partly signaled, promoted and Museum of the Piraeus Bank Group Cultural popularized. Foundation, the Museum of the Art of Silk or the “Gnafala” Collection. The restoration of a number of “cocoon houses” in Soufli, Dadia and Kornofolia for The Tzivre industrial complex, a really cultural purposes, such as the “ex-Kalesis” impressive silk factory, built in 1909, was Municipal Hotel and the Municipal Museum in bought by the Municipality of Soufli and is Soufli, the “Museum of Human and Natural restored in successive stages, in order to be Environment” in Dadia, –now under used as a “Center for Support and Promotion organization- or the organized, private of the Local Traditional Economy and museums of Silk in Soufli, such as the Culture”. (Picture 4)

Picture 4. The old Tzivre factory of silk in Soufli

THE RESULTS with culture, it remains, nevertheless, a In order for the results of the efforts of the financially oriented system, obeying to strict, previous years to be discernible, a long-time “non-humane” laws. In order to attract clients, vision is necessary, especially for our “virgin” local entities must “come out” in the tourist areas, where a period of at least 20-25 years is market, with a coherent and flexible proposal, required. (41) Nevertheless, a question searching for target groups, preferences or inevitably emerges: why sustainable tourism is habits. (43) Unfortunately, local authorities not developed in the area and the economic delayed to realize that tourism facilities do not and social level of the locals has not been benefit only visitors, by definition being not raised considerably because of culture? among the electorate; through every investment in cultural tourism, the profit for Small and medium local entities and the local communities can be multiplied, authorities usually are not capable of adding to the local income, to the creation of corresponding, without external help, to the jobs and the invigoration of the local market. strategic and financial needs of the tourist (44) management. Even when they overcome certain problems, often without money or The problems are proved to be both structural cadres, they hit against the rigid wall of and tactical. Thus, the responsible constantly bureaucracy. This, added to the lack of neglect to create, reform or elaborate a serious coordination between different policy making structure that could answer to the market levels, leads to the inability of responding to requisitions and take advantage of the strong the incessantly changing demands of the tourist local points. They do not pay attention to the market. (42) Particularly, it has not been lack of personnel or training and insist on the realized that even when tourism is concerned unprepared and unorganized attractions and

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GOURIDIS A. offerings. The lack of a persistent plan, a annual income per person, was at the 65,15% reliable budget and of advertisement- of the Average Greek Revenue (19.194 €) and information and popularization are as well at the 60,45% of the Average European one, important drawbacks. In fact, although the while Attica, for example, had climbed to the proposed activities were supposed to spring 136,5 % of the Greek and the 126,7 % of the from Local Development Municipal European average.(45) Programmes, it was proved that they were never taken seriously under consideration or THE PROFITS they simply were empty papers. On the On the other hand some considerable profits contrary, the handy approach and the Balkan came out from the accumulated experience: mentality, which despises long-term plans and - The concept and the parameters of culture theoretical background were prevailing. Thus, entered the socio-economic life of rural areas. the implemented projects in their majority - Rural regions obtained a new perspective, were proved to be spontaneous or fragmentary, provided that the future activities will be without provision for their future perspectives. serious and carefully organized. The situation was partly saved by the - Αctivities, apparently not connected between patriotism of a handful of competent rulers or them are tied with sustainable links. cadres. - Sensitivization and a first mobilization of the local populations have been achieved. Behind all these we can discern the symptoms - Potentially profitable relationships are of an indigenous pathology. The Greek State developed, both on national and trans-border was structured upon an introverted ideology, th level. influenced by the 19 century Neoclassicism - For the first time the remote Balkan and Romantism and characterized by the provinces realized that the cynical, resource to a bright past in order to cover hydrocephalous State can be set aside, so that modern weakness. At the same time the they alone will manage the matters of their people, “laos” in Greek, was considered as own homes. incapable of creating “high” cultural assets, being useful just for the completion of the CONCLUSION: THE KEY FACTORS chain of the ethnic continuation and the FOR A LOCAL DEVELOPMENT entailed national identification. Thus, the -The key words for a development policy are: formation of the “cultural terrain” was a-priori “optimum” and “quality” instead of based on the strange combination of a false “maximum” and “quantity”. Culture is not a self-confidence and a “raya” fear and at the mere economic parameter and even on the same time, on worship to the outcomer, tourism field it should never lose its prevalent leading to a defensive tactical confrontation of humane character. The maintenance of the the incoming promises. authenticity of the proposed product and the relative legislative norms can ensure this In addition, the rural areas, deprived from the priority. brilliant coating of the urban elite and urged by - A healthy, optimist self-confidence can be the complaint of the unprivileged were developed, based on real and current data. restrained to an inutile protest against injustice. Innovation should be furnished for the The late incorporation of into the “construction” of any proposal, the method national body (1920), the distance from the applied and the final product. capital and the other urban centers, as well as -- A distinct, as far as it concerns its character the centralized State system worsened things. and quality, organization of work has to be The inconveniency becomes clearer when it is implemented through a serious planning, set in the historical frame of the disastrous civil management and cooperation between war (1946-49) and the emigration flows of the ies ies different administrative levels, starting from a 60 – early 70 , which dissolved the regions local Strategic Plan for tourism, as a part of a of the border . local Operational Programme, creating

secondary generic plans, establishing The situation is reflected on statistics. Eastern principles and work conditions. (46) -Thrace still remains one of the - Management should include the whole poorest regions in the United Europe. procedure: identification – documentation of According to the data given by the Eurostat for destinations and routes, market research (target the year 2007, the region, with a 12.506 € groups, demands etc), development of

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GOURIDIS A. infrastructures, organization and orientation of 5. Richards G., The policy context of cultural the attractions, promotion and monitoring. (47) tourism. Ιn: Cultural tourism in Europe, - Inclusion of the activities in the local Wallingford, 1996, pp. 67-79: 68 (In the economic cycle is necessary in order to ensure following: Richards 19962). sustainability. The local market can participate 6. Рибов 2003: 11. Kalogeropoulou H., in a mutually beneficial manner. Cultural tourism in Greece. In: Atlas - The local community should participate Cultural tourism in Europe, Wallingford, actively to the formation of the proposals. The 1996, pp. 134-142: 142. OECD 2009: 11- role of the numerous local institutions, such as 13, 18-19. the Municipal Libraries, or associations, as 7. Алексиева С., Връзки с potential supporters or even as co-organizers of обществеността на културния the cultural proposals is crucial and can partly туризъм, София, 2004: 33. Some of these recover the lack of specialists. resorts are included in the Official - Cultural routes should be set together through Catalogue of World Monuments of common proposals, exploiting together UNESCO. common heritage where every area and ethnic 8. See also Алексиева 2004: 37. or social formation will keep its cultural 9. Richards 1996. Костов E., Kултурният identity туризъм, София, 2001: 25. Рибов 2003: -Modern economic environment demands a 12. wider approach through the combination of 10. Richards 19962: 68. Kalogeropoulou 1996: cultural tourism with other tourism branches, 139. such as environmental or agro-tourism, as well 11. Similar assessments have been made by as the scientific support and the proper the United Nations World Tourism advertisement, the latter contributing Organization. OECD 2009 : 19-21. considerably to the success of a project. Richards 1996: 31. Provided that some basic assumptions will be 12. Kalogeropoulou 1996: 134, 139. satisfied, the results, even not exhausting the 13. With a small intermediate decline during local potential, may be proved to be the 80ies. Kalogeropoulou 1996: 135-136. surprisingly positive. 14. Kalogeropoulou 1996: 134-135. 15. OECD 2009: 18. REFERENCES 16. OECD 2009: 11. Richards 19962: 67- 68. 1. Todorova M., What is or is there a Balkan Kalogeropoulou 1996: 135. culture and do or should the Balkans have 17. As it is was set by Crouch and Ritchie a regional identity? In: Changing Balkans (1999) and by Kotler, Haider, Rein (1993). 4: International Conference: The cultural OECD 2009: 27-29. potential of the Balkan countries as a 18. Maiztegui-Oñate, Bertolin 1996: 195. factor of development, 29.5-1.6/2003, OECD 2009: 11-13. İstanbul, Sofia, 2003, pp 45-57: 47. 19. Maiztegui-Oñate, Bertolin 1996: 197. www.wikipedia/culture. Kalogeropoulou 1996: 141-142. 1. Richards G., The scope and significance of 20. Костов 2001: 30. www.wikipedia/cultural cultural tourism. In: Cultural tourism in tourism Europe, Wallingford, 1996, pp. 21-38: 22. 21. See also Maiztegui-Oñate, Bertolin 1996: 2. Ракаджийска Св., Маринов Ст., 195. Туристически пазари, реклама и пъблик 22. Richards 19962: 69. OECD 2009: 3. рилейшънс, Варна, 1998: 13. Костов E., 23. See also OECD 2009: 13. Технология на туристическата 24. We should add the island of Samothrace. индустрия, София, 1996. 25. One of the initiatives financed by EU 3. Maiztegui-Oñate C., Bertolin M.T.A., structural funds, which is designed to help Cultural tourism in Spain. Ιn: Atlas rural factors consider the long-term Cultural tourism in Europe”, Wallingford, potential of their local region 1996, 195-203: 195. Рибов М., Туризмът 26. “Integrated Program for the Development в ерата на качеството, София, 2003: of (Isolated) Rural Areas” 14. 27. Catsadorakis G., Källander H. (eds), The 4. Maiztegui-Oñate, Bertolin 1996: 195. Dadia-Levkimi-Soufli forest National Organization for Economic Co-operation Park, Greece: biodiversity, management and Development (OECD), The impact of and conservation, WWF, Athens, 2010. culture on tourism, 2009: 17. 28. Kalogeropoulou 1996: 135.

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GOURIDIS A. 29. Ευθυµίου Γρ., Ο Κιοπέκ Μπέης 37. Soufli during the was a ∆ιδυµοτείχου, Αρχείον Θρακικού renowned “town of the teachers”. Λαογραφικού και Γλωσσικού Θησαυρού 19 38. Τριαντάφυλλος ∆., Ο ταφικός τύµβος της (1954), pp.153-160. Μικρής ∆οξιπάρας – Ζώνης ∆ήµου 30. See also Kalogeropoulou 1996: 135, 141. Κυπρίνου, Νοµού Έβρου. In: Ιστορική 31. Алексиева 2004: 33. Костов 2001. τοπογραφία της ελληνοβουλγαρικής 32. For a detailed bibliography see Gouridis διασυνοριακής περιοχής, Πρακτικά Ath., Τα θρησκευτικά µνηµεία της Ιεράς Επιστηµονικής Συνάντησης, ∆ήµος Μητροπόλεως ∆ιδυµοτείχου, Ορεστιάδος Σουφλίου, 2008, pp. 5-26: 5-12. και Σουφλίου, ∆ιδυµότειχο, 2010. 39. Гуридис А., Старите мостове в района 33. Ζεγκίνης Eυ., Ο Μπεκτασισµός στη на община Суфли и тяхната ∆.Θράκη: Συµβολή στην ιστορία της реставрация, Interreg IIIA – CBC Phare διαδόσεως του µουσουλµανισµού στον , Greece – Bulgaria (in the following: Ελλαδικό χώρο, Θεσσαλονίκη, 1988. Interreg), idem, Архитектурата по 34. The games were organized for the event of пътищата на коприната, Interreg, idem, the birth in Didymoteichon of the Миналото като бъдеще: историческа “porphyre-borne” Ioannes V Palaeologos, топография на района на община Andronikos III’s son and they “imitated Суфли и местно развитие, Interreg. the Olympic games,…in the best way” as 40. OECD 2009: 12. Nikephoros Gregoras cites (Ρωµαϊκή 41. Richards 19962: 68, Maiztegui-Oñate, Ιστορία, (cur. L. Schopen), Ι, Bonn, 1829 : Bertolin 1996: 197. OECD 2009: 31. 482). For the event see Γιαννόπουλος Φ., 42. See also Ракаджийска Св., Маринов Ст ∆ιδυµότειχο. Ιστορία ενός βυζαντινού 1998: 11, 17 οχυρού, Αθήνα, 1989, pp. 56-60, 77-78. 43. See also Richards 19962: 68. 35. Kalogeropoulou 1996: 136-138. 44. Kalogeropoulou 1996: 140. 36. Γοδεφρείδος Βιλλαρδουίνος, Η κατάκτηση 45. Maiztegui-Oñate, Bertolin 1996: 197. της Κωνσταντινούπολης, (transl. Костов 2001: 30-32. Κ.Αντύπας), Αθήνα2, 1985, § 282, 289. 46. Maiztegui-Oñate, Bertolin 1996: 197-198.

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