Description
Description (EN): Despite the natural and cultural resources, the cross border area lacks an organized management plan for the development of thematic tourist products and hence the main tourist product remains "sun, sea & sand" tourism. In addition, the recent economic crisis in Greece, drove the local economy into a recession on the Greek part and slowed down growth rates on the Albanian part. This leads to a significant opportunity to promote the thematic tourism in the cross-border, especially by creating a visitor profile to understand the tourism impacts on local, regional and national economies was needed. Thus, there is a significant opportunity for growth and developing through thematic tourism in the area of interest and THEMA targets this need. In order to address these challenges, the THEMA project delivers a solution using new technologies and creates innovation in three levels: (i) at a technological level, by incorporating a new form of Bluetooth-based location sensors and an innovative gamification rewarding mechanism. (ii) At a content level, by exploiting and enriching existing routes, while providing open access to that content to tour agents and tour operators. (iii) At a social level, by promoting socialization and user empowerment. The end users of THEMA solution are tourists that could benefit from the solution in multiple ways, while the beneficiaries include, also tour operators and tour agents as well as tourism professionals in general. Finally, local authorities (i.e. Municipality and Prefecture) will benefit from the increase in tourism domain in their area. The overall objective is twofold: (i) to improve the overall user experience that acts as a tourist in the cross-border region and (ii) to enhance the natural and cultural heritage of the region through smart technology and thematic tourism, attracting a new audience and providing advanced and quality services to all. The innovations that THEMA creates, address the Specific Objective 2.1 under the Priority Axis 2 and result to the enhancement of the tourists experience in the cross-border area and promotion of the natural and cultural heritage through smart and new technology. This leads to the provision of quality services that could attract new audience (young people, fans of thematic tourism) and extend their visit in the area, since, through the thematic routes and the mobile app, a variety of options and content is presented to the user, while, through the rewarding mechanism, the tourist has additional motivations. THEMA results, also, to a common interregional and transnational brand name and the establishment of common thematic routes and touristic packages. Also, through the rewarding mechanism, occupies local businesses in its process that, in association and collaboration with tour operators and tour agents, can lead to the promotion and enhancement of thematic tourism, boosting the tourism industry in the cross-border area of interest.
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Website: https://2014-2020.greece-albania.eu/
Expected Results (EN): As mentioned in the Objectives Section the overall goal of the THEMA project is to improve tourists experience in the cross-border area and enhance and promote the natural and cultural heritage of the area of interest through smart and new technology. This leads to the provision of quality services that could attract new audience (young people, fans of alternative and thematic tourism) and extend their visit in the area, since, through the thematic routes and the mobile app, a variety of options and content is presented to the user, while, through the rewarding mechanism, the tourist has additional motivations. Thus, THEMA addresses both the result indicator (RI) and the output indicator (OI) of the programme. THEMA contributes to tourism development in the area of interest and in general the cross-border (traffic increase, lengthening of the season, etc.) through the use of new technologies to promote and enhance the natural resources and cultural and historical heritage. THEMA results to a common interregional and transnational brand name and the establishment of common thematic routes and touristic packages. Also, through the rewarding mechanism, occupies local businesses in its process that, in association and collaboration with tour operators and tour agents, can lead to the promotion and enhancement of thematic tourism, boosting the tourism industry in the cross-border area of interest.
Read more Expected Outputs (EN): The main outputs are: One launching and one closing event to inform beneficiaries about the THEMA thematic packages and technological solution. Also, additional promotion events are organized for tourists and professionals in the tourism sector, such as 2 fam and 2 press demonstration trips and 2 treasure hunting-like games. A video series of 3 small duration promotional video spots, a press kit that will be distributed in 2 international exhibitions as well as a press tour and other publicity material. Design and mapping of routes that will be part of the three thematic packages. Smart location sensors, Bluetooth-based, will be installed throughout the routes for unobtrusive navigation and content delivery at the mobile phone of the user. Mobile app development in Android and iOS, embedding the routes as well as collaboration, rewarding and recommendation functionalities that could propose to users routes similar to their interests, profile or previous searches. Development of additional functionalities integrated to the mobile app for socialization and cooperation between users. These functionalities include: (i) initiate and maintain the (hashtag) #THEMA in twitter and Instagram, where users could upload photos from their routes and comment on other users photos and posts, (ii) invite or challenge another user in cooperative exploration of a walking or a cycling route, (iii) discuss with locals for a more in-depth familiarization with the area in a natural, cultural and ethnographic perspective. Determination of the thematic touristic packages. Professionals could exploit the thematic packages and routes offered by the THEMA project as well as the dynamic and user community of the THEMA project in order to promote their business increasing their competitiveness in the highly demanding market of tourism sector. Determination of the virtual and physical rewarding packages and challenges.
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Partners (5)
Lead Partner:
Development Agency of Epirus S.A.
Address:
Platia Pirrou & Micha. Aggelou str.,, 45332 Ioannina, Greece
Legal status:
public
Website:
http://www.epirussa.gr
Total budget:
EUR 241 009.50
IPA2 budget:
EUR 204 858.08
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Ioannina Region Hotels Association
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Name:
Ioannina Region Hotels Association
Address:
PYRROU SQ. 1,, 45221 IOANNINA, Greece
Legal status:
private
Website:
http://www.irha.gr
Total budget:
EUR 134 618.30
IPA2 budget:
EUR 114 425.56
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Qendra për Bashkëpunim dhe Zhvillim Rajonal
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Name:
Qendra për Bashkëpunim dhe Zhvillim Rajonal
Address:
UNAZA E RE, N. C34, 7th FloorTirana, Albania
Legal status:
private
Website:
http://rcdcalbania.org/
Total budget:
EUR 81 368.20
IPA2 budget:
EUR 69 162.97
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Agjencia Kombetare e Turizmit
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Name:
Agjencia Kombetare e Turizmit
Address:
Rr. Seremedin Said Toptani Nr.1Tirane, Albania
Legal status:
public
Website:
http://www.akt.gov.al
Total budget:
EUR 46 157.60
IPA2 budget:
EUR 39 233.96
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Prefekture of Gjirokastra
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Name:
Prefekture of Gjirokastra
Address:
Sheshi "Çerçizit"Gjirokaster, Albania
Legal status:
public
Total budget:
EUR 49 858.80
IPA2 budget:
EUR 42 379.98
