Description (EN): In the context of the global networking and cooperation, cross border tourism areas offers increased opportunities of attractiveness in tourist unity and cooperation of the similar natural regions and anthropogenic assets. The Romania-Serbia cross-border area is characterized by such a similar geo-space, historical events, similar demographic features, similar religions as well as other anthropogenic factors. Meantime, both Romania and Serbia are now in the social and economic transitions stage. Romania is UE member since 2007 and Serbia development is at the stage of intensive adaptations to the European integration.
The Romania-Serbia cross-border area and especially Mehedinți-Borski districts which are the object of this project have a huge touristic potential, most significant of them based on natural, historic and cultural patrimony. Cross-border tourism potentials offer unique, attractive traditional tourism destinations (cultural, sports-recreational and weekend-picnic, religious, balneo, business, scientific) as well as potential for new forms of tourism (rural, eco, spa, medical health care and wellness, cycling, cynegetic, fishing, speo, hiking trail, cruise a.s.o.).
The main challenge for tourist sector in Romania-Serbia cross-border area is that such a huge touristic potential is very little exploited. According WTTC the statistics show that in 2014 the direct tourist sector had a share of 2.1% in the Serbia GDP and total contribution (including indirect and induced) of tourist sector to Serbia GDP was 6.1%. Meantime, in Romania the direct contribution to GDP was 1,6% and total contribution was 4,8%. These indicators are well below the world average of 9.2%.
According to Romania National Tourism Master Plan 2007 – 2026, Mehedinți district indicators show that tourist services are well below than national average. There are 2,638 companies with combined tour operator and travel agency licenses in Romania and only 11 in Mehedinți, well below national media of 62.There are 937 tour guides registered with the NTA in Romania, and only 2 in Mehedinți. There are 45 from 6130 (0.73%) structures for accommodation, 51.8thousand arrivals from 8444.0 (0.61%) and 112.2 thousand (0.55%) nights spend from 20230.2 in Mehedinți reported to national level in 2014 (INS source).
There are 290 travel agencies in Serbia, and on the territory of Bor district are registered the 3 and 3 tourist organizations which operating locally. The Municipality of Kladovo has about 900 beds in hotels, motels, and categorized private accommodation. During the year 2014, 39102 tourists spent the night in Kladovo, of which 30757 were domestic and 8345 foreign tourists. (Data of the Republic Institute for Statistics).
Great potential for cross-border area tourism and extremely low indicator values show that there are seriously challenges for actual tourism developing. There are structural challenges to national level for both countries and there are local derivative challenges.
The actual partnership between municipalities of Kladovo and Broșteni, the Bishopry of Severin and Strehaia and Association ”Sons of Lupșa” is able to tackle some important challenges of tourism sector and to propose and implement solutions for increase of competitiveness and attractiveness of cross-border tourist destination. These challenges are as follow:
- Lack of cross-border identity awareness and promotion,
- Lack of cross-border tourist brand and weak promote of positive image of Romania and Serbia destination,
- Insufficient infrastructure for improving services of an existing or new tourist product in Borski district – Fetislam fortress and Mehedinți district – Tourism Center in Broșteni-Lupșa de Jos,
- Lack of support for local traditions and folklore as tourist attractions,
- Outdated tourism services or promotional products especially in small cities and rural area,
- Lack of good practice exchange in tourism,
- Underestimating the potential of public-private partnership for major tourism projects in the smaller municipalities.
The project has 3 objectives that aim to improve some of the above-mentioned situations that were identified as challenges and to add value to the opportunities of the cross-border area. The first objective of the project is ”Improving the cross-border cooperation structures for tourism services in Borski-Mehedinti cross border area by investments in 2 tourist products”.
The basic approach to Mehedinti-Borski cross-border area is investment in infrastructure. The partnership finds that investment in revitalization of Fetislam fortress is a key of improvement of touristic attractiveness in the area due to the fact that it is the most dominant monumental landmark on the territory of Kladovo.
Our project addresses to realize ”The Visitors Center” as objective of revitalization investment, due to the fact that it may be introduced immediately in tourist circuit and has a great attractiveness. After rehabilitation it will become an urban living environment destination and a representative touristic product. In these structures there may take place rich multi-media activities, business congresses, seminars, fairs, etc. that may animate a wide range of visitors.
Investment in The Tourism Center from Broșteni-Lupșa de Jos was decided as approach for sustainable rural development of the area. This option is based on a valuable potential supported by favourable geographic location - the confluence of the plains and plateaus with the sub-mountainous area - being in the middle of an area rich in folklore with valuable traditions through consistency and variety. This Tourism Center consists on an assembly comprising a building functioning as touristic center for cultural events and arranging a sportive platform for sport events.
The present project develops a package of activities based on cross-border cooperation and the Tourism Center will have a dynamic start due to the partnership with Kladovo municipality. The agreed activities are organized linked to local fests or festivals and are designed with the special purpose to ensure an annual flow of tourist in cross-border area and to strengthen the presence of the 2 touristic products into local market.
The partners agreed that these activities will be financed annually after the end of the implementation by the Municipalities of Kladovo and Broșteni because they are addressed to young people and is expected to be well-received.
The second objective of the project is ”Creation and promotion of a local brand and promotion of good practice exchange in local cultural and rural tourism in Borski-Mehedinti cross border area” (Due to sequential order of actions it is designed as third objective). Successful tourism destinations have one thing in common: clearly conceived and defined branding that evokes and embodies the uniqueness and specificity of a particular area. The brand has the key role to build a historical and cultural product that is to improve the image of the branding object. Research shows that tourism sector can amply grow if the brand is properly implemented over a medium to long term. Tourism professionals believe that both Romania and Serbia country’s images remain unclear and fragmented. Continuity of efforts for the creation highly positive national brands, strongly relevant products and investment in marketing and promotion are thus necessary to consolidate Romania and Serbia’s branding on the international tourism landscape.
Mehedinți and Borski districts enjoy a rich heritage, natural and cultural attractions. It will be critical for the success of local tourism that their distinctiveness and uniqueness is highlighted to visitors, while remaining consistent with the overall national branding. This will also help spread demand, increase variety and bring diversification into the tourism product. brand is a complex project that needs focus of branding, PR and publicity specialists. Main operations consist on identification of maximum 5-6 brand values, establishing of the name, of the slogan and of visual identity. The brand creates 3 values: awareness, distinctness and favourability. he objective also aims to promote the positive image of the cross-border area and the brand created by the project through joint actions and good practice exchange.
Read more Achievements (EN): The project's main objective was to increase young people's employment opportunities and employability in the border areas. The partners achieved this by creating organizational and institutional conditions for cross-border and networked improvement of education, knowledge, and skills that meet the needs of the economy and labour market. The project focused on modern IT technologies and management systems. These encourage and support innovation, creativity, entrepreneurship, and the knowledge-based economy of young people in the Romanian and Serbian border areas.
Skills that match the economy's needs, knowledge based on new IT technologies and modern management systems were not enough. It was also essential to encourage the commitment to tertiary and lifelong education.
The mission of education is in a quick process of shifting from `TO ENABLE PEOPLE TO KNOW` towards `TO ENABLE PEOPLE TO LEARN`! This new mission paradigm requires the corresponding paradigm shift of TEACHING, TEACHING KNOWLEDGE OR TEACHING LEARNING.
The project's added value consists of creating a multidisciplinary team (teacher, employer, youngsters) that developed and implemented the personalized approach for each situation.
The target group was formed by: youngsters (especially unemployed) in the cross-border area with ages between 16-24 years, who were involved in presentations and tests, in activities supporting the increased chances of employability; Romanian and Serbian teachers who benefited from the training of trainers in the areas of IT, management and entrepreneurship; Romanian and Serbian employers involved in TES Program, in the training and counselling activities organized for youngsters to help them develop the necessary skills for the labour market.
The project activities focused on integrated services for access to job opportunities offered to youngsters between 16-24 years old, especially vulnerable groups (young people not employed, not involved in training or educational activities).
Indirectly, due to the project outcomes, there were more beneficiaries, for example, secondary school teachers, higher education institutions, entrepreneurs with access to a high-quality workforce, the National Employment Services, local government authorities, and the region's population.
DEGREE OF ACHIEVEMENT OF INDICATORS: 1 cross border cooperation structure supported in the field of labour market – 100%.
1 joint action targeting smart (green) growth opportunities – 100%.
184 participants in projects promoting gender equality, equal opportunities and social inclusion across borders – 184%.
RESULTS ACHIEVED: 1 innovative TES Network facilitating access of youngsters on the labour market – 100%.
1 training session for youngsters in the intelligent fields – 100%.
184 people experiencing better access to the labour market – 184%.
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