Description
Description (EN): The cross-border (CB) area, is characterized by a rich and diverse cultural heritage in a unique natural beauty setting that could form the basis for tourism development. Cultural heritage has been preserved in various printed and audiovisual material (aka Cultural Heritage Objects) that are stored in libraries across this area. However, many of such CHOs that are part of the history, tradition and culture of the two nations, are being stored behind glass showcases or in the basement of the Libraries with no access to visitors due to their sensitive condition or increased significance. Also, some of those assets cannot be digitised since are too sensitive and their quality is too low because they have suffered partial damages or age-related corrosion.VirtuaLand, addresses overall objective of the programme and the SO.
2.1, and leads to a significant opportunity to use significant cultural assets to promote tourism in the CB area. The overall objective is to: (i) identify, protect and preserve cultural heritage of the CB area through highlighting content included in rare, old, significant assets included in the Libraries.(ii) act as a novel touristic concept that will result to an innovative attraction pole for all tourists visiting the area. The central feature is to provide tourists the opportunity to live an in-depth experience with tangible and intangible assets and better understand the traditions, history and culture of the CB area.To this end, VirtuaLand will deliver a Virtual Reality (VR) interactive platform, where selected CHOs are converted to cultural and touristic scenarios. The CHOs will be mainly acquired from the Repositories "Olympias" and "EpirusMnimon" of the University of Ioannina Library that hold rare essays with significant cultural content of the CB area as well as old assets from the University of Gjirokaster Library and the Central Public Library of Konitsa.Users will not only browse the assets of interest, but will experience life into another era, identify the living conditions of that period and interact with characters that will enhance their experience.VirtuaLand will produce a library of 3D objects and an open VR platform, that will be used by librarians and tourism professionals with limited programming skills to create their own VR stories, increasing the sustainability of this initiative. Thus, training activities are foreseen for the use and extension of the VirtuaLand platform. Two VR Halls (one in Greece and one in Albania), will be created to demonstrate the VR created content to groups of tourists. Thus, the Libraries will be transformed to an alternative high tech information point and a starting point for all tourists visiting CB area.Finally, VirtuaLand results to a common brand name for Greece and Albania, the "VirtuaLand" brand that will include VR packages to promote the common natural, cultural and historical identity of the CB area.
Read more
Expected Results (EN): The overall goal of VirtuaLand is to identify, protect and preserve cultural heritage of the CB by delivering VR scenarios that can also act as an attractive touristic package for tourists visiting the area. This leads to the provision of innovative services with high technological interest that could attract new audience (mainly young people) and enhance their experience. Thus, the direct and immediate effects are: (i) Increasing the number of visitors to the CB and extension of their visit in the area in order to live in the real world all the emotions, traditions, cultural activities that experienced in the VR world. Thus, VirtuaLand addresses both the result indicator (RI) and the output indicator (OI) of the programme. VirtuaLand contributes to tourism development in the area of interest and in general the CB (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. (ii) Results to a common interregional and transnational brand name and the establishment of common VR scenarios that could be also extended after the project end. Through the open VR platform and the different 3D objects, assists tourism professionals. (iii) Training of the tourism professionals on the use and extension of the VirtuaLand platform, but, also, on the cultural framework of the area. Thus, the Libraries could be transformed to a source of knowledge and a valuable reference information and starting point for all tourists visiting the cross-border area. The organization of seminars, networking and awareness raising activities could lead to sustainable local development in the cross-border area, bringing cross-border cooperation to a new level. Over the long-term, it helps to: a) increase tourism influx and results to increased job opportunities, b) capitalize on the experiences gained to enhance local tourism and c) improve local sustainable development.
Read more Expected Outputs (EN): The main outputs are: One launching and one closing event to inform beneficiaries about the VirtuaLand VR content and technological solution. Also, additional promotion events are organized for tourists and professionals in the tourism sector, such as 2 fam media trips and 2 VR Infrastructure demonstration activities (one at each country). Publicity material development (leaflets and a website with translations in Greek, Albanian and English). A video series of 3 short promotional video spots, a press kit that will be distributed in 2 international exhibitions as well as a press tour and other publicity material. An open Virtual Reality (VR) platform that will be easily utilised by tourism professionals to create and publish touristic packages in the VR environment. Five (5) VR interactive scenarios that will be based on content drawn from Cultural Heritage Objects with cross-border (CB) interest. he content will be chosen in the beginning of the project by historians, ethnographers and folklorists by the Universities of Ioannina and Gjirokaster based on the rarity, sensitivity and significance of the assets that represent the environment and living conditions of several eras throughout history. A Library with more than 100 different reconstructed digital 3D objects that will be utilised by tourism professionals to enhance the scenarios resulting to an interactive VR results for tourists exploring the cultural and natural heritage of the CB area. Two VR Halls (one in Greece and one in Albania), fully equipped at least with 20 VR kits each and the appropriate equipment and infrastructure to demonstrate the VR created content to groups of tourists that are visiting the area. The result will be an enhanced user experience and a first contact with the habits, heritage, history and culture of people living in the CB area of interest.
Read more
Partners (4)
Lead Partner:
University of Ioannina - Research Committee
Address:
University Campus, 451 10 Ioannina, Greece
Legal status:
public
Website:
http://www.rc.uoi.gr
Total budget:
EUR 238 783.95
IPA2 budget:
EUR 202 966.36
-
Center for Economic Development and International Relations
-
Name:
Center for Economic Development and International Relations
Address:
Rr. Him Kolli, Ρ.33, Ap 6 Tirana, Albania
Legal status:
private
Website:
http://www.qzhemn.al
Total budget:
EUR 136 753.25
IPA2 budget:
EUR 116 240.26
-
University "Eqrem Cabej"
-
Name:
University "Eqrem Cabej"
Address:
Lagjia "18 Shatori" Rruga "Studenti" Gjirokaster, Albania
Legal status:
public
Website:
http://www.uogj.edu.al
Total budget:
EUR 95 997.50
IPA2 budget:
EUR 81 597.88
-
Central Public Library of Konitsa
-
Name:
Central Public Library of Konitsa
Address:
New Municipal Market, 454 45 Konitsa, Greece
Legal status:
public
Website:
http://www.libkon.gr
Total budget:
EUR 108 370.10
IPA2 budget:
EUR 92 114.59
