Description
Description (EN): The overall objective of the ALTTOUR project is to boost the spa-tourism by promoting c-b thermal springs, mainly based on Master Plans, Benchmarking Analysis, Place Branding techniques & capacity building. The Therapeutic Tourism is a selective form of tourism with significant economic advantages. It is the tourism form with the least negative effects of any adverse circumstances and can be provided during a twelve-month season. The demand for spa tourism in Greece is characterized by strong seasonality, particularly in large spas. The same conclusions apply to the Albanian side with main characteristic the lack of modern and proper services and relevant infrastructures. The peak month for spa tourism is September, followed by August, unlike the rest of tourism which peak month is August. Although there have been important steps forward in both countries, the thermal resorts lagging behind their European counterparts mainly due to their management by local authorities and the non-interference of the private sector. Based on the above background, the ALTTOUR project, attempts to integrate into the wider environment, functional links with existing comparative advantages related to cultural and natural resources, include them in route packets. To this end, the project action focuses on the organization of customized touristic packages which will include, focusing the visit to the spa as well as tours in other worthy to see places around the c-b area. The project aims to respond to the above challenges by: (a) Identifying the assets, drawbacks & marketing necessities on the c-b thermal resources, (b) Promoting thermal tourism and sustainability within the c-b area, (c) Establishing a Joint Brand Strategy based on focused place marketing and pilot actions, (d) Conducting benchmarking analysis among the top European spas and the spas in the c-b area (e) Developing Customized Touristic Packages on Thermal Tourism, (f) Establishing Local Quality Agreements & Pilot actions, (g) Creating a network of new thematic forms of tourism such as "SPA tourism" and (h) Investing in capacity building. This project will bring together all the involved stakeholders to collaborate and act in concert in order to accomplish shared goals.Overall, ALTTOUR will increase the Beneficiaries administrative efficiency in managing the touristic and cultural capital. Furthermore, it will promote the c-b areas integration by introducing common knowledge platforms in thermal tourism & culture and enhance the endogenous potential by applying brand strategy building in a sustainable way aiming to attract new visitors. The projects ultimate goal is to valorize the economic potential of thermal tourism. The main target groups involve SMEs, businesses involved in tourism and enterprises of wider scope, local governments' members, public or private stakeholders, potential visitors as well as the c-b regions inhabitants.
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Expected Results (EN): ALTTOUR envisages an interdisciplinary approach for boosting the spa-tourism by promoting c-b thermal springs, mainly based on Master Plans, Benchmarking Analysis, Place Branding techniques & capacity building. The overall estimated results of the project include: (60) Key-stakeholders will be involved in Local Quality Agreements & Pilot Actions (100) Stakeholders in touristic sector will take part in MOOCs (200) Tourist enterprises related to tourism will take part in training activities. (320) Local elected people will take part in training regarding place marketing (800) Visitors will make use the Customized touristic packages on thermal tourism (150) Journalists and experts in tourism will take part in Study Visits (15) Institutions will make use the Master Plans on thermal springs in the c-b area (800) Users will make use the VR application on "thermal tourism" (800) Potential visitors will make use the Touristic guide on intangible culture (450) participants will take part in Info Days & deliberation activities (100) participants will take part in Final Conference (160) staff members will increase their capacity in culture management (10) European institutions, (15) national institutions, (40) regional and local institutions will be informed on project results. The targets show consistency with the objectives of the project they are noticeably measurable, realistic and time based due to the well-structured timetable of the overall project. From the above expected result it is clear that the project is absolutely linked with Programme's result indicator concerning jointly developed management supporting the preservation of cultural & natural resources as a prerequisite for tourism development of the c-b area. The main result indicator directly linked to the project is the increase of annual visitors and the increase of the annual tourist overnight stays. This is an immediate output of enhancing the areas attractiveness
Read more Expected Outputs (EN): ALTTOUR boost the spa-tourism by promoting c-b thermal springs, mainly based on Master Plans, Benchmarking Analysis, Place Branding techniques & capacity building. The expected outputs are directly related to the specific objectives and altogether comprise the means to achieve the projects and programs overall objectives. According to the WPs the expected outputs are summarized as follows: - WP2: COMMUNICATION & DISSEMINATION. The aim is to disseminate the projects outputs to the involved target groups. DELIVERABLES: (1) Communication Strategy Plan, (1) brand-book/tool-kit, (1) e-book/app. (1) VR application, (1000) Project Leaflets, (2000) Leaflets in Eng, (3) Banners, (3) Posters, (1) 10 video on c-b culture, (6) Newsletters, (3) Digital Brochures, (10) Entries in Newspapers, (10) Entries in Magazines, (6) Entries in TV, (4) Info Days, (1) Final Conference. - WP3: BRAND STRATEGY. Expected outputs are connected with the needs of branding of the c-b area. DELIVERABLES: (1) Report Study on thermal spring, (1) Benchmarking Study, (1) Place Branding Strategy (5) Master Plans on thermal springs in the c-b area (4) Equipment supplies for organizing local branding events. - WP4: CAPACITY BUILDING ACTIONS. The involved outputs contribute to the management plan and skills. DELIVERABLES (16) Training on branding for local elected people, (10) Training on branding for enterprises related to tourism, (5) MOOCS for key-stakeholders in touristic sector & (2) Study Visits for journalists & experts in tourism. - WP5: NETWORKING & QUALITY. Outputs are strongly linked with enhancing the tourist product. DELIVERABLES: : (1) Touristic guide on intangible culture (Print & App), (3) Local Quality Agreements & Pilot Actions, (5) Customized touristic packages on thermal tourism, (4) Deliberation activities on thermal tourism. The above outputs are expected to increase the attractiveness of the c-b area and to draw substantial attention to issues pertaining to regional policies
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Thematic information
Specific Objective:
Preserve cultural and natural resources as a prerequisite for tourism development of the cross border area
Thematic Priority:
(d) Encouraging tourism and cultural and natural heritage
Partners (4)
Lead Partner:
Albanian Ministry of Tourism & Environment
Address:
Bulevardi 'Deshmoret e Kombit' No 1, 100 0 Tirana, Albania
Legal status:
public
Website:
http://turizmi.gov.al/
Total budget:
EUR 206 572.32
IPA2 budget:
EUR 175 586.47
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Sustainable Development Albania
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Name:
Sustainable Development Albania
Address:
Blv. Bajram Curri 120, 810 89 Tirana, Albania
Legal status:
private
Website:
http://sealbania.org/
Total budget:
EUR 101 489.16
IPA2 budget:
EUR 86 265.79
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Ministry of Tourism
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Name:
Ministry of Tourism
Address:
Leoforos Amalias 12, 105 57 Athens, Greece
Legal status:
public
Website:
http://www.mintour.gov.gr/
Total budget:
EUR 154 845.40
IPA2 budget:
EUR 131 618.59
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Hellenic Association of Municipalities with Thermal Springs
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Name:
Hellenic Association of Municipalities with Thermal Springs
Address:
Th. Sofouli 88, 551 31 Thessaloniki, Greece
Legal status:
public
Website:
https://www.thermalsprings.gr/index.php/el/
Total budget:
EUR 197 634.00
IPA2 budget:
EUR 167 988.90
