STRANDJA FEST JOINT REPORT Assessment of Local Fairs and Festivals in Strandja This document was created within the Strandja fest project, ref. No CB005.1.22.056 under the Program Interreg for Cross-Border Cooperation Bulgaria-Turkey 2014-2020, the European Union through the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance, as well as the two partner countries Bulgaria and Turkey. Full responsibility for the content of this document is taken by the Prosveta Chitalishte 1914 - Malko Tarnovo and under no circumstances can it be considered that this document reflects the official opinion of the European Union and the Contracting Authority. Content of the report: Topic Page I. Introduction 2 II. Gathering of information in cross-border region 3 1. Methodology of Assessment of Local Fairs and Festivals in Strandja 3 2. Project partners and think-tank group contribution to 4 research on Festivals in Strandja mountains 3. Territorial scope of the survey. Territorial administrative 4 divisions in Bulgarian and Turkish part 4. Methods of gathering information. Sources of information 6 5. Assessment steps 9 III. Analysis 11 1.Event terminology and definitions 11 2. Definitions and types of most popular events in Strandja 16 3. Analysis of popularity and growth potential of festivals in Strandja 21 4. Stakeholders and organizers of events in Strandja 29 5. Financing of festivals and events 38 6. SWOT Analysis of Festivals in Strandja 47 7. Assessment of festivals in Strandja 48 8. Case study of possibilities for diversification and development of 67 joint cross-border festivals 9. Contemporary trends and changes that occur in Strandja 86 10. Benefits and chalenges 88 11. Recommendations for development of Strandja as a festival 93 destination IV. Conclusions 99 Sources of information 107 1 I. Introduction The survey has been realized within the project “Strandja/Yildiz -the mountain of festivals (STRANDJA-FEST), funded under Project partners: the INTEEREG Cross- Border Cooperation PP1: National community center Prosveta 1914 , Programme IPA " Bulgaria- Turkey 2014- Malko Tarnovo, district Burgas, Bulgaria 2020. PP2: Kirklareli Culture and Tourism Directorate, In recent years some traditional fairs and Kirklareli, province, Turkey festivals in Strandja increased their popularity. They have kept the region’s uniqueness and have become important assets and opportunities to develop economically sustainable touristic products and alternative and diversified tourism activities in order to enhance the economic situation in the area. 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 study is aimed at gathering information that would promote Strandja as a mountain of festivals. The aim of study is also to identified and estimate festivals in order to explore the potential for tourism development in border regions Bulgaria -Turkey, drawing attention upon local events and festivals. 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 authors of the present study has mostly collected and summarised the information, as well as outlined a few main findings and recommendations, but it was not the author’s aim to provide an in-depth analysis of the situation or to formulate specific proposals for reforms. Assessment of Local Fairs and Festivals in Strandja In order to implement this activity a think tank research group has been created in June, 2017. It consists of 4 experts- 2 Bulgarian experts and 2 Turkish experts. The Scope of our work included following activities: 2 I) Research - It comprises of the following components: Research on annual local events in Strandja mountain, including, description, period, key actors, marketing and promotion of events, including ICT promotional tools, related services, other tourism resources in areas; Analysis of their popularity and growth potential Stakeholders and financing for festivals in Strandja, European Folklore Festivals' networking Development of a joint calendar of all festivals in Strandja. This activity will help to the partners and event managers to select and upload information on project web-platform in order to create and maintain on-line joint calendar and mapping of local fairs/festivals; Defining event managers and stakeholders in cross-border region; Elaboration criteria for ranking festivals - The criteria was elaborated and reconciled with Bulgarian and Turkish researchers, project staff, and local stakeholders. Questionnaires were disseminated between stakeholders and summary of their evaluations were prepared. Creating an online questionnaire with tourists. The survey was sorted according to economic impact, popularity, culture value, etc. and it aimed at defining the 20 most popular festivals (events) in Strandja region. Case study of possibilities for diversification and development of joint cross- border festivals Analysis and think tank group recommendations on development of Strandja as a festive destination II) Supporting the development of a network for enhancing cross-border cooperation and working on the mutual interests of promotion of a joint destination. Setting up and facilitating a network; Participation in the Network of Tourism Stakeholders in Strandja III) Participation in staff meetings and meetings between experts, stakeholders. II. Gathering of information in cross-border region 1. Methodology of Assessment of Local Fairs and Festivals in Strandja When examining the findings of the present study the reader should bear in mind various methodological difficulties and obstacles that hinder the qualification of certain events as festivals, especially in the case of smaller or amateur events, and if there is a lack of information about some events or projects. The festivals and events, which were taken into account in this study, are listed in the Annexes to report. Events, which call themselves festivals or panagirs are also listed. However, there are cases when the so-called “festival” is a new or small/ short of duration (for instance half a day) event and not open enough to the general public. It is 3 rather a group of thematically related events. It is difficult to compare in nature and size such events with the well-established festivals lasting a few days and targeting a wider audience, as well as new audiences. 2. Project partners and think-tank group contribution to research on Festivals in Strandja mountains The National Community Center Prosveta 1914 , Malko Tarnovo, district Burgas, Bulgaria is the host and organizer of the festival "In Malko Tarnovo’s way - from the springs of Strandja“. The project team and experts are invited to visit the festival held in Malko Tarnovo on 29 and 30-th of July 2017. During the meeting, the project team from Bulgaria and Turkey provided methodological support to the experts in the process of development of the questionnaires and conducting a case study for the Festival in Malko Tarnovo. During the meeting were discussed the opportunities for organizing a joint cross-border festival. A draft list of identified festivals and events was presented and discussed during the meeting. The Employer approved the datasheet model and gathered information for settlements, as well as natural and cultural attractions. This information is of great importance because there is not yet a complete list of events taking place in Strandja. Gathered information will be used for the development of promotional materials for festivals in Strandja. On August 26, 2017, a second meeting was held in the premises of Malko Tarnovo between the project team and the Bulgarian experts participating in the study. During the meeting the methodology for evaluation of the events and festivals in Strandja was discussed and the content of the questionnaire was defined. The experts presented the criteria for assessing the the attractiveness of the festivals and the information collected so far is about 20 festivals in the Turkish part of Strandja and 135 festivals in the Bulgarian part of Strandja. On October 22, 2017 in Kirklareli was held the 3rd meeting between experts from Bulgaria and Turkey. Intermediate results of the expert assessment and the online survey among tourists were discussed. A plan for the content of the final report has been defined. 3. Territorial scope of the survey .Territorial administrative divisions in Bulgarian and Turkish part The scope of the study of the territory of Strandja mountains, on which the study should extend, is problematic because the mountain is overlapping with the Sakar Mountains. There are different opinions and publications on the impact of Strandja on the territory of the settlements. In consultation with the partners, the scope of the study was broadened. It was accepted that the following borders are accepted for the territory of Strandzha: to the east Strandja reaches the Black Sea, to the north it extends to the municipalities of Sozopol, Sredets, and Bourgas, to the west come several villages from the municipalities