Use of Natural and Cultural Heritage in Adventure Tourism
Good practices in Bulgaria
Diana Miteva, Project Manager Svetlana Dimitrova-Sotirova, Communication Manager
Euroregion Pleven-Olt Association On-line 27/05/2021 .
Area: 111 000 sq. km.
NORTH Population: 7 000 000 people Euroregion Pleven-Olt Association is a non-governmental organization, established in 2007. Its founders are the mayors of municipalities from Pleven District, Bulgaria and Olt County, Romania. The Association has implemented lots of projects within cross-border and transnational programmes, supporting the social-economic development of the region. The adventure accompanies every trip. But the adventure tourism as a specialized type of tourism includes at least two of three key elements: physical activity, cultural exchange and contact with nature. This makes it a generator for the development of mountain, coastal and riparian basins and other areas outside the major resorts. Balloon adventure (ROBG-14) Dragon boats JAMP (ROBG-384) Balloon adventure – (ROBG-399) Joint adventure on the a new joint tourism product mountain paths Balloon adventure (ROBG-14) Balloon adventure - a new joint tourism product
http://balloonadventure.eu Duration: 02.02.2016 – 01.02.2018
Area addressed: Bulgaria: Veliko Tarnovo, Pleven, Vidin, Vratsa, Ruse, Montana, Silistra and Dobrich in Bulgaria Romania: Giurgiu, Mehedinţi, Calarasi, Constanta, Dolj, Olt, Teleorman in Romania
Main institutions involved: Lead beneficiary: Agency for Regional Development and Business Center – Vidin, Bulgaria Project partners: Regional Development Agency and Business Center 2000, Montana, Bulgaria Romanian Association for Electronic Industry and Software Industry, Oltenia Subsidiary, Romania
Resources needed: The budget for the realization of the project is 485,460 EUR. Project „Balloon adventure – a new joint tourism product“ aims to contribute to the development of tourism and to improve the sustainable use of the natural and cultural resources in the cross border region of Romania- Bulgaria.
Main objective is creating a new tourist product with the participation of all stakeholders in the development of tourism in the cross border region as well as increasing the share of the tourists in the region. Steps in the realization of the good practice:
§ a new joint tourism product (based on 2 hot-air balloons that fly over both countries) created
§ a network with promoters of the new tourism product created in order to develop the CBC region;
§ purchase of two hot air balloons – one for Bulgaria and one for Romania;
§ development of marketing strategy for a new cross-border tourism product /hot-air balloons/
§ balloon flights on ropes organized in 10 different towns in Bulgaria and 10 in Romania in order to promote the new tourism product;
§ training of balloon ground crew organized;
§ Balloon fiesta held. Potential for learning or transfer:
The created tourist product is expected to attract more foreign tourists and to increase the number of overnight stays in the cross-border area, covering 8 districts in Bulgaria and 7 in Romania.
The opportunity to fly a balloon is a relatively new tourist attraction. A created tourist product will contribute to establishing the image of the cross-border region Romania-Bulgaria as a tourist destination for adventure tourism, combined with many other opportunities for recreation and entertainment.
Balloon Adventure project approach took into consideration the similarities and complementarities between border areas in terms of knowledge/promotion of natural and cultural heritage. JAMP (ROBG-384) Joint Adventure on the Mountain Paths
www.jamprobg.eu Duration: 23.08.2018 – 22.01.2020, 18 months
Area addressed: Mehedinti County in Romania Vidin and Montana Districts in Bulgaria
Main institutions involved: Lead beneficiary: Romanian Association for Electronic and Software Industry – Oltenia Subsidiary, Romania Project partners: Agency for Regional Development and Business Center – Vidin, Bulgaria “Regional Development Agency and Business Center 2000” Montana, Bulgaria Resources needed: The budget for the realization of the project is 490,320 EUR. The main goal of the project JAMP (ROBG-384) Joint adventure on the mountain paths is to support the sustainable development of cross-border tourism from Romania and Bulgaria and to increase the promotion of the mountainous region of Mehedinti and Vidin and Montana counties, by creating new products and services and by direct participation of all stakeholders.
The tourist offers will increase the number of mountain tourism lovers. The creation of mountain bike routes will increase the number of tourists who will visit this unique part of the region. The use of mountain electric bicycles protects and promotes an environmentally friendly attitude in the cross-border mountain region. Steps in the realization of the good practice:
§ Studies for identifying the types of trails for mountain electric bikes were developed. Explored 32 mountain routes in the project area; § Common Marketing Strategy for the identified trails for mountain electric bikes in project area was developed; § Acquisition of 150 mountain electrical bikes with GPS; § Organization of seminars with the stakeholders; § Organization of joint trainings for e-bike maintenance with the selected operators; § Information and publicity campaign; § Organization of joint info-tour to promote tourism with mountain electric bikes; § Participation at tourism fairs in Sofia and Bucharest. Potential for learning or transfer:
Mountain e-biking is gaining more and more fans because it is a great opportunity to exercise in the fresh air and because it is suitable for bikers who are not very well trained.
The new tourist offers provided by JUMP project will increase the number of mountain tourism lovers. The creation of mountain bike routes will increase the number of tourists who will visit this unique part of the region. The use of mountain electric bicycles protects and promotes an environmentally friendly attitude in the cross-border mountain region.
The good practice is suitable for transfer in mountain areas where tourists to cycle on mountain trails. Dragon Boats (ROBG-399)
http://dragonboats.eu/bg/ Duration: 01.08.2018 - 31.10.2020, 23 months
Area addressed: Cross border area of Romania-Bulgaria: 7 counties in Romania and 8 districts in Bulgaria
Main institutions involved: Lead beneficiary: Agency for Regional Development and Business Center – Vidin (ARDBC Vidin) – Bulgaria Project partners: Local Employers’ Association for Small and Middle Enterprises (LEASME) - Romania Association Consult-Group - Bulgaria
Resources needed: The budget for the realization of the project is 485,460 EUR. The overall objective of the project is to create a new joint tourism product - “Dragon Boats” along the Danube in the cross border area of Romania-Bulgaria, allowing a large number of people to get in touch with the biggest flowing natural phenomenon and unifying factor for both countries – the Danube!
The originality of the project idea is also related to enhancing cross-border cooperation between people and institutions in the region to jointly address common challenges and exploit the untapped potential for cross-border tourism development through resource efficiency, developing a common tourism product based on the natural, cultural heritage and joint promotion. Steps in the realization of the good practice:
§ Creation of technical capacity for the new joint tourism product – Purchase of 4 dragon boats, 2 safety boats, rowing simulator, life vests, mobile dock, dragon boats trailer, cargo van and various equipment § Organization of 10 alternative tourism seminars in order to coordinate the created by the project team management plan for valorization of water tourism § Holding of 10 Dragon boat festivals in Danube towns § Organizing of cross-border dragon triathlon § Organizing 2 cross-border Dragon boat mini marathons in Bulgaria and Romania; § Organizing of 6 1-day rowing simulation events in bigger cities in the cross border area; § Promotion of developed tourism products and project events with brochures, leaflets, website, film, press- conferences, promotion in radio and TV. Potential for learning or transfer:
The created tourism product “Dragon boats” represents an important tourism attraction along the Danube in the cross border area of Romania-Bulgaria and the appropriate water basins.
It can be used to attract big groups of tourists to practice team building, water sports, to discover nature from the water. Although the project is not revenue generating, the tourism product dragon boats will be available even after the end of the project all over the cross border area, provided that the direct costs for the events are covered without generating profit.
These extremely popular in the far east dragon boat events can make the waters in the cross border area an attractive destination only because of the fabulous show they create in the water. Internet portal offering different type of adventures www.adventure-bg.com
Here you can make your dream of flying freely with a balloon or to climb a panoramic climb on the rocks for a short time come true. You can walk with an electric bike on the developed routes, to taste the best wine in the region, to unite the team of your company with a water adventure in dragon boats. Panoramic ascent with a safari balloon Motor boat tripJeep A jeep or horseback ride, organized walking tours among the the Danube on Belogradchik rocks, multimedia shooting with an authentic pistol Multimedia shooting and rifle, a motorboat ride on the Danube - this and many other fun adventures await you in perhaps the most beautiful place on Earth! Sailing with dragon boats The center offers adventures for organized or individual tourists, Sailing with dragon boats which are held both by the center and by other organizers of bike ride Double ride adventures from the region of Belogradchik and Vidin. At the Electric same time, the Adventure Center takes care of the condition of certain trails and forest roads, which are most suitable for hiking and biking in the region! Thank you for attention!
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Euroregion Pleven-Olt Association [email protected] www.cbicenterspks.eu