Sustaining Rural Tourism in the Giurgiu-Ruse Area Through its Cultural Heritage

Programme 2014 - 2020 INTERREG V-A Romania - Bulgaria

Date of latest update: 2023-06-29

Description

Description (EN):

Common challenge: Rural communities in both Romania and Bulgaria - and especially the ones situated in the cross-border region - face similar challenges in terms underdevelopment, aging and decreasing populations (with negative population growth rates), weak diversification of economic activities and in turn inefficient connections to markets that would be able to absorb agricultural production from the area (coupled with limited investments in irrigation and agricultural machinery). At the same time, a number of relevant opportunities need to be considered as well. More specifically, in both Giurgiu and Ruse, local communities have tended to maintain - despite modernization pressures – their traditions and customs specific and characteristic to their area. Moreover, the region formed of the two municipalities benefits of rich natural and cultural heritages, that when considered together with the world-wide trend among tourists towards seeking authentic experiences (and sustainable tourism for that matter) in their travels, provides communities with an untapped opportunity for sustainable development. Overall objective: In this context, the project has as overall objective the development of an integrated approach to the promotion of the cultural intangible and tangible heritage of rural communities from both Giurgiu and Ruse in order to support local economic development and the evolution of rural tourism. As such, the project aims to develop a complex joint study (in accordance with Specific Objective 2.1.1 of PA 2) that would identify the villages from Giurgiu county and Ruse district with the largest touristic potential (rural authenticity preserved through traditions and customs, practices, local architecture, products, community events etc.). We estimate to select around 20 such villages in total (10 from each side of the border). The study will include a comprehensive and detailed documentation of the cultural elements which have justified the villages’ selection (traditions, histories, lifestyle, traditional buildings, products, community events etc.) and a series of accompanying professional photographic materials (depicting both tangible and intangible cultural elements). Finally, the project will include the elaboration of a valorization strategy for all of the rural communities analysed that would have as objective the safeguarding of the most important elements of cultural heritage and their efficient and sustainable promotion. Both the study and the strategy will be disseminated to the most relevant local stakeholders (authorities, economic actors, initiative groups and associations etc.). In order to further promote the selected villages from both sides of the Danube, the project will also include the development of a common touristic guidebook and of a photo album which will be freely distributed at tourist information centers in the region, accommodation venues, restaurants, local authorities etc. The visibility of these two products will be increased through the organisation of two photo expositions where the best photographic materials developed during the documentation phase (and included in the photo album/touristic guidebook) will be displayed. Finally, for the purpose of securing the materialisation in time of the proposals made in the strategy, we will also organise a series of roundtable debates/events (one per rural community selected in the study) on sustainable touristic development. The meetings will be moderated by experts in the field from Romania and Bulgaria and will be addressed to and attended by representatives of the local authorities, inhabitants of the communities, and economic actors from the area. During the meetings the audience will be presented with good practice cases in local development, and support will be offered in identifying the strategic priorities and lines of action for future development projects. Contribution to Programme outputs: Through the proposed activities, the project’s contribution to the Programme outputs will be represented by one joint study and a strategy for valorising the cultural heritage of rural areas in Giurgiu and Ruse for sustainable economic uses. This result will be directly in line with Output indicator I10 of Priority Axis 2. Moreover, through the photo exhibitions and the promotional materials (guidebook and photo album) we assume an increase in the number of tourists overnights at the level of the two districts by 500 overnights during the implementation period (compared to the year before the start date of the project). Approach: The implementation of the project will entail following the principles of Project Cycle Management, an exploratory approach (identification of relevant stakeholders and local actors, putting forward a vision and objectives for rural touristic development as well as a series of activities through which these targets can be reached), inductive approach (the proposed strategy being the basis for future local policies and decisions) and integrated approach (involving all relevant actors in order to enhance the chances of local stakeholders assuming the strategy and its targets). The opportunity and necessity of a cross-border approach are met due to a number of aspects: A common set of challenges (despite the potential for the development of various products and services specific for rural tourism, no progress has been made so far); An integrated approach developed by both partners in the project and based on the experience and expertise of both parties’ personnel; An efficient methodology that - with limited resources - identifies the rural municipalities with the most potential for touristic visibility (while also creating the basis for future thematic cross-border touristic trails for example), documents and promotes important specific cultural elements (contributing to their preservation as well) and provides local actors with an instrument (objectives, proposed activities and targets) for coordinated development. Originality: The implication of local relevant actors through the organisation of roundtable events represents one important original element of the project. The purpose of this activity will be to better communicate the results of the study to the local communities as well as to provide them with an instrument that could facilitate the comprehensive and coordinated development of these rural municipalities. Moreover, while seeking to improve the sustainable use of local cultural heritage, our approach is to focus not on larger cities, but on smaller, rural municipalities which can better coordinate themselves around a common objective. Indicative budget: 329.308,67 EURO.

Achievements (EN):

The project implementation was finalized in November 2019 and the project results are currently being assessed at progarmme level. Project Management Team was set up and the opening press conference was held in Giurgiu on 26.11.2018 and in Ruse on 13.12.2018. All the services and equipment were subcontracted. Based on a common methodology the two partners selected 10 villages in Giurgiu County and 10 villages in Ruse district with the highest potential for rural tourism, which was assessed in a Joint Study of Rural Communities with Touristic Potential. Based on the joint study Beneficiary 2 developed a Joint Valorisation Strategy exploring the potential of the wider Giurgiu-Ruse area to attract touristic demand and develop a strong quality brand and regional label through the experiences and products that can be offered. To promote the Joint Valorization Strategy that was developed, the project partners planned a series of roundtables with stakeholders in each of the selected 20 villages. Also, a series of communication activities and promotional materials, as well as promotional videos for each of the 20 villages were realized. More information is available on the project website http://rtdgiurgiuruse.eu/.

Website: https://interregrobg.eu

Expected Results (EN): R2.1 - Number of tourist overnights in the CBC region

Expected Outputs (EN):

During the project's lifetime, our contribution to the programme result indicator will be an increase by 500 tourist overnights in the area by the end of the project. More specifically, the project will directly contribute to the Programme Result Indicator no.1 “Number of tourists overnights in the CBC region” through the organisation of a photo exposition which will reunite the larger public, journalists and bloggers, entrepreneurs (from various fields) who will be introduced to the region and encouraged to further promote the area and visit it. Moreover, through the joint touristic guidebook and photo album which will be freely distributed to tourist information centers in the region, accommodation venues, restaurants, local authorities and any other interested individuals, the project will promote the rural communities as destinations per se distinguished through their rich cultural heritage. By focusing on rural communities as touristic destinations and using a wide range of tools for their promotion (a comprehensive study over the existing heritage which will serve as informing tourists and other interested actors, a valorisation strategy that will serve as a guide for both local authorities and private actors in investing in the future) the project will contribute to the programme result indicator in a direct and sustainable manner. Moreover, our approach distinguishes itself from other previous practices in that it addresses both the needs of tourists (interested specifically in rural tourism and in new destinations bearing the characteristics of this type of tourism) and of the communities themselves (aiding them in the identification of strategic priorities that will lead to touristic development, informing them of ways to act in order to meet these priorities and providing them with instruments that would increase the visibility of their municipalities as touristic destinations).

Thematic information

Cultural heritage and arts Tourism Rural and peripheral development

Specific Objective: To improve the sustainable use of natural heritage and resources and cultural heritage

Thematic Objective: (06) preserving and protecting the environment and promoting resource efficiency by:

Investment Priority: (06c) Conserving, protecting, promoting and developing natural and cultural heritage

Partners (2)

Lead Partner: Eastern Danube Convention &Visitors Bureau Association

Department: Marculescu Clara-Victoria

Address: Bd. Bucuresti 57, 80302 Giurgiu, Romania

Legal status: private

Total budget: EUR 188 790.67

ERDF budget: EUR 160 472.07

Бизнес център за подпомагане на малки и средни предприятия – Русе

Name: Бизнес център за подпомагане на малки и средни предприятия – Русе

Department: Katya Goranova (Executive director)

Address: Kresna 14, 7000 Ruse, Bulgaria

Legal status: public

Website: http://bsc.smebg.net

Total budget: EUR 171 488.45

ERDF budget: EUR 145 765.18

Partners map

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Sustaining Rural Tourism in the Giurgiu-Ruse Area Through its Cultural Heritage

Project acronym: RTD Giurgiu-Ruse

Project start date: 2018-09-14

Project end date: 2019-11-13

Project status: closed

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 360 279.12

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 306 237.25

Co-financing sources:

ERDF: Amount, EUR 306 237.25.

Documents

Documents on this project are listed below, and organised by category. Please note field "Data source", attached to each document. Keep.eu users are free to use these documents as long as they mention the data source and keep.eu.

Videos / films

Cherven

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://www.rtdgiurgiuruse.eu/video/

Publication date: 2022-11-10

Document date: 2019-09-11

Languages: bg, en

Ryahovo

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://www.rtdgiurgiuruse.eu/video/

Publication date: 2022-11-10

Document date: 2019-09-11

Languages: bg, en

Oinacu

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://www.rtdgiurgiuruse.eu/video/

Publication date: 2022-11-10

Document date: 2019-09-11

Languages: en

Gostinu

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://www.rtdgiurgiuruse.eu/video/

Publication date: 2022-11-10

Document date: 2019-09-11

Languages: bg, en

Draganescu

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://www.rtdgiurgiuruse.eu/video/

Publication date: 2022-11-10

Document date: 2019-09-11

Languages: en

Greaca

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://www.rtdgiurgiuruse.eu/video/

Publication date: 2022-11-10

Document date: 2019-09-11

Languages: bg, en

Slobozia

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://www.rtdgiurgiuruse.eu/video/

Publication date: 2022-11-10

Document date: 2019-09-11

Languages: en

Basarbovo

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://www.rtdgiurgiuruse.eu/video/

Publication date: 2022-11-10

Document date: 2019-09-11

Languages: bg, en

Clejani

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://www.rtdgiurgiuruse.eu/video/

Publication date: 2022-11-10

Document date: 2019-09-11

Languages: en

Ekzarh Yosif

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://www.rtdgiurgiuruse.eu/video/

Publication date: 2022-11-10

Document date: 2019-09-11

Languages: bg, en

Comana

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://www.rtdgiurgiuruse.eu/video/

Publication date: 2022-11-10

Document date: 2019-09-11

Languages: en

Izvoarele

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://www.rtdgiurgiuruse.eu/video/

Publication date: 2022-11-10

Document date: 2019-09-11

Languages: en

Nisovo

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://www.rtdgiurgiuruse.eu/video/

Publication date: 2022-11-10

Document date: 2019-09-11

Languages: en

Heresti

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://www.rtdgiurgiuruse.eu/video/

Publication date: 2022-11-10

Document date: 2019-09-11

Languages: en

Balanoaia

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://www.rtdgiurgiuruse.eu/video/

Publication date: 2022-11-10

Document date: 2019-09-11

Languages: en

Nikolovo

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://www.rtdgiurgiuruse.eu/video/

Publication date: 2022-11-10

Document date: 2019-09-11

Languages: en

Shtraklevo

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://www.rtdgiurgiuruse.eu/video/

Publication date: 2022-11-10

Document date: 2019-09-11

Languages: en

Ivanovo

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://www.rtdgiurgiuruse.eu/video/

Publication date: 2022-11-10

Document date: 2019-09-11

Languages: bg, en

Mechka

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://www.rtdgiurgiuruse.eu/video/

Publication date: 2022-11-10

Document date: 2019-09-11

Languages: bg, en

Krasen

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://www.rtdgiurgiuruse.eu/video/

Publication date: 2022-11-10

Document date: 2019-09-11

Languages: bg, en

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2014 - 2020 INTERREG V-A Romania - Bulgaria

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2023-06-29

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

169 / 169 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

445 / 445 (100%)

Notes on the data

Information provided by the Programme. Achievements were retrieved by Interact from the Programme website (https://interregrobg.eu/), or a website directly linked from it, on 2021-11-25, 2023-01-25 and 2024-03-15.

The financial data featured in keep.eu for this programme, it's projects and its partners is not exact and should be taken as a reference only.

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Sustaining Rural Tourism in the Giurgiu-Ruse Area Through its Cultural Heritage

Description

Thematic information

Partners (2)

Partners map

Summary

Documents

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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